The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Tuesday urged all oppressed ethnic nationalities in Nigeria to join in shutting the country down on October 1.

The proscribed group in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, pleaded with other agitators particularly, those in the Oduduwa Republic and Middle Belt, to join in rejecting the October 1 Independence Day.

The statement reads: “Following our earlier declaration of October 1st sit at home order issued by the leadership of the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB), all Nigeria oppressed tribes should reject the Nigerian government’s evil agenda against the indigenous peoples.

“We, the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), request our brothers and sisters in Oduduwa republic and Middle Belt who suffer a similar fate with us to join hands in sympathy protest.

“All lovers of freedom including Christian communities in the North and other parts of Nigeria, who receive humiliation, intimidation, and killings from Fulani terrorists, bandits, and murderous herdsmen should understand that time has come for all victims of Fulani impunity and atrocities to unite together for resistance.

“We need to put our differences behind us and rise like one people to defend our ancestral land and heritage against our common enemy.

“We advise all oppressed people in Nigeria to know that we are all victims of Fulani evil agenda which the federal government of Nigeria has been encouraging and supporting them to eliminate indigenous tribes and take over their ancestral lands.

“Our objective is to deliver all indigenous nationalities, so everybody must reject Nigeria with their impunity if we want to be free from Fulani subjugation. Nigeria is not worth celebrating and our children must be saved from the evil that is Nigeria. Our freedom is due and ready for us to take it.”