By Praise Chinecherem
A member of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Okafor Nzubechukwu has reportedly renounced his membership of IPOB, over alleged killing of his father by the Nigerian Federal Government Joint security operatives when they stormed their Umuchu country home, Aguata Local Government Area, Anambra State
Making this disclosure to newsmen in Onitsha, a relation and friend to Okafor Nathaniel Nzubechukwu, Mr. Oforma Jude, said that he renounced his membership of IPOB, over the killing of his father who was also a member.
According to Jude, “Okafor Nathaniel Nzubechukwu is my relation and friend, we are all from Umuchu community in Aguata Local Government Area. He was a Chieftain of IPOB, I think he was the commander of Aguata Region of IPOB before he ran away when the joint security forces of the Federal Government stormed their house to kill him.
“They wanted him to be killed because IPOB according to Federal Government is proscribed and so on 13 July, 2023, he ran away and has not been seen till today. It was when they stormed their house that his father was killed on the process and on hearing of the killing, renounced membership of IPOB
Giving an account of how the father wss killed, he hinted that the son joined his father in the IPOB struggle to actualise a sovereign state of Biafran and stop terrorists’ invasion of the South-East zone.
“The duo of father, and son, also participated in the Nkpor IPOB protest where Nigerian military killed scores of IPOB members on March 29th, 2016.
“In 2017 when IPOB was proscribed by Federal Government, both father and son were active members of IPOB till today that the father is no more alve and the son is nowhere to be seen as he ran away because he is wanted to be killed by the security operatives for being a member of IPOB.
“IPOB is a group of freedom fighters because of the marginalization of the Igbo race by the Federal Government. So presently members of the group and their Eastern Security Network, ESN, are being searched for to be killed. Even if Okafor Nathaniel Nzubechukwu, renounced his membership of IPOB, he is still wanted to be killed,” he affirmed.
“I was told he was advised to run away for his dear life to avoid being killed as the proscription on IPOB would be worse for him, especially as most youths were being wanted to be killed by military and other security operatives.
“He then thought it wise by renouncing IPOB on July 13th 2023 and then ran away for his dear life, having lost father, in the name of IPOB and started getting threats from ESN, the IPOB militia and he left.
“With the arrest of IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, by the Federal Government, in mid-2021, it showed the seriousness to kill proscribed IPOB members seen anywhere in Nigeria and as Igbo Christian, he couldn’t stay in Northern Nigeria or Southwest where innocent people are being massacred daily by terrorists Fulani Jihadists,” the relation further hinted.
