The Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) has called on members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to lay down their arms and embrace peaceful dialogue with the federal government. In a statement commemorating the 53rd anniversary of Biafra’s surrender on January 13, 1970, PeacePro urged IPOB to honor the historic peace agreement that prioritized reconciliation and national unity. The statement, signed by PeacePro’s Executive Director, Abdulrazaq Hamsat, was released in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Wednesday.
The group highlighted that IPOB’s violent actions contradict the peaceful resolution embraced by Biafran leaders over five decades ago. It reminded IPOB of the federal government’s declaration of “No Victor, No Vanquished,” which laid the foundation for rebuilding and reintegration after the civil war.
“The continued pursuit of violence by IPOB dishonors the memory of those who chose peace to stop further bloodshed in the South East during the Biafra war,” the statement read.
PeacePro also criticized demands for the unconditional release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu without a commitment to peace, describing such calls as counterproductive to stability and progress.
“True peace and progress require acknowledgment of mistakes and a change in approach. IPOB’s violent activities have resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives and devastated the South-East economy,” the group noted.
The organization emphasized that sustainable peace can only be achieved through non-violent advocacy, dialogue, and adherence to democratic principles, urging IPOB to align with these values to foster progress and unity in the region.
