The Hand Behind the Trigger”: IPOB Accuses Global Forces of Plotting Against Biafra Struggle

The Hand Behind the Trigger”: IPOB Accuses Global Forces of Plotting Against Biafra Struggle

Enugu -Biafra land (Nigeria) 

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), through its Directorate of State (DOS), has released a strongly worded statement warning that powerful forces, both local and international, are working relentlessly to derail its campaign for self-determination. The movement, which describes itself as a non-violent global family committed to the freedom of the Biafran people, insists that what it calls “the hand behind the trigger” has been at work for decades, determined to keep Biafrans subjugated in their own homeland.

In the statement signed by Mazi Chika Edoziem, Head of the IPOB Directorate of State, the group accused Britain and its allies of orchestrating a long-standing plot to weaken Biafra’s quest for independence. IPOB argued that the struggle is not simply about politics or economics, but about survival itself. While international actors and the Nigerian government, it alleged, are driven by greed and a desire to control resources, IPOB said the Biafran people are propelled by an instinct to preserve their identity and dignity for future generations.

The DOS drew parallels between the present struggle and past atrocities. It recalled that state-backed violence against Biafrans began as far back as the 1940s during British colonial rule, intensifying into the Nigerian Civil War of the late 1960s. The statement cited Britain’s role in supplying arms to Nigeria despite mass killings, highlighting former Prime Minister Harold Wilson’s controversial remark that the starvation of half a million Biafran children meant nothing compared to the need to keep oil flowing and arms sales steady. IPOB said this chilling episode reflected the mindset of the British establishment, which it accused of still pursuing the same policy through proxy governments and controlled media narratives.

According to IPOB, Britain and Nigeria are not fighting alone. The group alleged that politicians of Igbo origin serving within Nigeria’s system, along with elements of the clergy, academia, and local media, are being used as tools of infiltration. By presenting themselves as leaders or representatives of the people while secretly undermining the self-determination cause, these actors allegedly serve as extensions of what IPOB called the “colonial hand behind the trigger.”

One of the most controversial points in the statement was IPOB’s rejection of Simon Ekpa, a Finland-based Nigerian who has been widely portrayed by Nigerian and international media as an IPOB leader. The DOS described this portrayal as a deliberate falsehood aimed at criminalizing the group. It said Ekpa, recently convicted of terrorism offences in Finland, had never been admitted into IPOB’s structures because he failed internal vetting procedures years ago. The group accused the Nigerian government, alongside international media houses such as the BBC, Associated Press, Deutsche Welle, and even social platforms like Facebook, of conspiring to elevate Ekpa as its supposed leader in order to discredit IPOB’s peaceful agitation.

IPOB warned that such portrayals are part of a broader plan to secure its designation as a terrorist organization on the international stage. According to the group, the ultimate objective is to justify another wave of mass killings against the Biafran people under the guise of counterterrorism, much like what occurred during the civil war. The DOS claimed that continued attacks on villages, kidnappings, and violent crimes committed by both state actors and armed non-state groups in the Southeast were being wrongly attributed to IPOB to achieve this purpose.

To counter these narratives, IPOB pointed to its long record of international engagement. Since 2015, the DOS said it has formally communicated with and petitioned bodies such as the United Nations, the African Union, ECOWAS, the European Commission, and the European Parliament. It has also written to governments across Europe, North America, and Oceania, while staging peaceful rallies to raise awareness of what it calls the “atrocities of the Nigerian state against innocent Biafrans.” These activities, IPOB argued, are clear evidence of its non-violent approach and structured global presence, in sharp contrast to the claims of terrorism advanced by its detractors.

Despite the weight of opposition, IPOB praised its global family of supporters for their resilience and commitment. The DOS emphasized that the movement has survived infiltration attempts, smear campaigns, and violent crackdowns because its structures are built with checks and balances designed to prevent hijack or deviation from its fundamental principles. According to the group, the steadfastness of its members is proof that the quest for self-determination cannot be extinguished by propaganda or intimidation.

The statement concluded with a warning and a call to action. IPOB urged its members worldwide to remain vigilant, stressing that the conviction of individuals like Simon Ekpa should not be seen as a victory but as a reminder of the lengths to which its opponents are willing to go. It cautioned that the British establishment and the Nigerian government remain focused on destroying the Biafran will to be free and will not hesitate to trigger another bloody confrontation if given the chance.

Yet, despite these warnings, IPOB expressed confidence in eventual victory. “We will continue to expose the lies and manipulations of those who want to keep us as subjects,” the DOS declared. “The world must know who truly holds the hand behind the trigger. Victory shall be ours at the end of this battle, for our cause is just, our spirit unbroken, and our determination unwavering.”