The Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Tukur Buratai has said that while the Defence headquarters made a pronouncement stating that the IPOB is a terrorist organization, this did not make it a declaration per se.
Buratai said this while speaking during the official launch of Operation Python Dance II in Abakaliki in Ebonyi state yesterday September 18th.
Buratai said that the army was within its limits to make such a pronouncement and that it had made room for the Federal Government to do something about it which he called a good move.
Buratai said; “You have to get it very clear. First of all, what the Defence Headquarters did was to make a pronouncement. It wasn’t a declaration per se. But this has given room for the right step to be taken. I think the government is doing the right thing”
Recall that in a statement by the Director Defence Information, Major General John Enenche, IPOB had been pronounced a Terrorist organization, a conclusion he said was reached after much analysis.
The statement had read in part; “From the foregoing, the Armed Forces of Nigeria wishes to confirm to the general public that IPOB from all intent, plan and purpose as analysed, is a militant terrorist organisation. Therefore, parents and particularly unsuspecting residents of the South East and other Nigerians should advice their wards to desist from joining the group. The Defence Headquarters restates its commitment to handling all the security challenges in the Country and further assures all Nigerians of the protection of lives and property”