On Wednesday, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the lawyer to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), said that the group "was never at any time involved in the #EndSARS protests". But how true is this claim? AllNews fact-checks.
Ejiofor, who represents the outlawed group canvassing for the secession and sovereignty of Eastern Nigeria stated that IPOB "goes with identifiable insignias in any of their protest or rallies", hence it was wrong of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to have accused members of the group of killing six soldiers and four police officers during the recent #EndSARS protest in his state.
Note that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and IPOB have been at loggerheads lately, with the Rivers State number one citizen currently going strong against them.
Legal practitioner, Ejiofor (right) with his client, Nnamdi Kanu of IPOB
"Through #EndSARS protests, youths across the country ventilated their frustrations on the apparent maladministration of the present Government," Ejiofor wrote on his known Twitter handle on Wednesday.
"The consequent hijack of the process by hoodlums witnessed among other things the breaking into warehouses in search of Palliatives, even in the Nothern States.
"The #EndSARS protest took a disturbing dimension after the genocidal massacre of innocent protesters #LekkiMassaccre.
"This genocide ignited fire across the south, which led to an orgy of violence that erupted across the states, and not only in Rivers.
"IPOB was never at any time involved in the #Endsars protest.
"IPOB I know, and defend in court goes with identifiable insignias in any of their protest or rallies.
"How come Gov Wike narrowed the violence in Rivers to IPOB's activities?
"IPOB is not known for violence.
"They aren't armed, they are always peaceful in all their activities/undertakings.
"The world is aware.
"This is a clear case of giving a dog a bad name in other to hang it."
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Recall AllNews had reported that self-exiled Kanu during his routine online broadcast on Monday 19th of October declared that IPOB will join the #EndSARS protests on the 26th of October.
While the nationwide leaderless protests against police brutality in the West African nation were abruptly ended after the Lekki Shooting incident of October 20, AllNews cannot independently verify if members of the banned organization partook in the demonstrations on the streets of Nigeria without Biafra insignias.
The image above would have invalidated Ejiofor's claim. "'Biafra insignias'" including "'flags" are evident.
However, a reverse image search done on the picture showed that it was shot by Stefano Montesi for Getty Images on May 30, 2019, in Rome, Italy.
People took part in a demonstration at Piazza del Popolo, during a Freedom March for Biafra held worldwide and organised by IPOB to mark the anniversary of the unilateral declaration of independence in 1967 that sparked a brutal 30-month civil war in Nigeria.
Although the hashtag/inscription on this placard, #EndNigeriaNow, was actually also prominent on microblogging site, Twitter, during the recent anti-police brutality protests in Nigeria, it was not first used in year 2020.
Some people believe, meanwhile, that the #EndNigeria hashtag was powered by Biafra apologists.
AllNews cannot independently verify this claim though.
Ejiofor's claim is largely correct.
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