The Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) and the Oodua People’s Congress ( OPC) has been likened to the dreaded Boko Haram by a former Nigerian Army Chief.
It’s no longer news that the uneasy in the country lately has been a major topic on the desk of many Nigerians.
In Oyo state, the Southwest region of the country, they’ve been serious crisis rocking most area of the state which has been attributed to the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, and same thing has been happening in the East which lots of fingers have also been pointed at the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. Although, they’ve been lots of denials from these two sector, but for a former Army Chief, he has a different opinion about them.
Abdulrahman Dambazzau who was a one time army chief has said that IPOB and OPC are similar to Boko Haram because they don’t believe in oneness of Nigeria.
Dambazzau made this statement when be spoke at the inauguration of Army War College Nigeria Course 5/2021 in Abuja on Friday, April 9, 2021.
He further said both groups are exhibiting features similar to that of Boko Haram when insurgent group started in 2009.
“They are all non-state actors. They all have separatist agenda to carve out states out of Nigeria’s territory. They all do not believe in the Nigerian project, its unity and peaceful co-existence just like BH.
They are also beginning their projects by attacking security forces and those they consider their enemies.
The two groups have been making efforts to ignite nationwide inter-ethnic conflicts through their violent attacks on northern residents or transacting businesses in the south as a quick to realise their dream for a divided Nigeria.
We see parallels between BH, a religious extreme group and the IPOB and OPC, both ethnic extremist groups. All the three groups operate on the platform of extremism.”he said
