The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has sharply condemned any plans by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to establish cattle ranches or settlement schemes, including the controversial RUGA initiative, in the South-East. The group, which has long opposed such policies, insists that the region is off-limits for any forms of cattle settlements and warns the government of dire consequences if it continues with these proposals.
In a strongly worded statement issued during his New Year address, Chika Edoziem, Head of the Directorate of State of IPOB, reminded the federal government and state authorities, particularly Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, that their efforts to introduce RUGA or similar schemes would be met with fierce resistance.
“We will not accept any form of settlement schemes like RUGA or cattle ranching in Biafraland,” Edoziem declared, adding, “We have made it clear before, and we reiterate now—Biafraland is off-limits for any Fulani herder settlement projects. We will not allow our land to be taken over under the guise of such schemes.”
The RUGA program, which was originally introduced to address the often violent clashes between herders and farmers, has faced significant backlash across various regions of Nigeria. Critics argue that such schemes are a covert means of settling nomadic Fulani herders in various parts of the country, thereby enabling further expansion of Fulani control over the land. IPOB is particularly vocal in its objection to any project that might grant Fulani herders authority over land in the South-East, viewing it as an attempt to weaken regional autonomy and further marginalize the Igbo people.
Edoziem emphasized that IPOB’s position on this matter has not changed, despite the neutral stance the group has maintained towards Tinubu’s administration since its election. The warning is loud and clear: IPOB will not tolerate any policies that could threaten the territorial integrity of the South-East or undermine the Igbo people’s control over their land.
“We have said this before and we say it again: IPOB is not afraid of confrontation,” Edoziem continued, “We were born with it. But we will resist any effort to destabilize our region with cattle ranching schemes. We will make it clear to President Tinubu that Biafraland is not available for settlement under the RUGA initiative or anything similar.”
Edoziem’s remarks come amidst growing concerns in the region about the federal government’s policies and their potential impact on local communities. The fear is that the introduction of RUGA could result in further displacement of local farmers, who are already dealing with land shortages, environmental degradation, and the consequences of the ongoing farmer-herder conflict that has plagued various parts of Nigeria.
The IPOB leadership also issued a direct warning to Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, urging him not to entertain any proposals for RUGA in his state. According to IPOB, any such move would be seen as a betrayal of the South-East people and would not go unchallenged.
“We are aware of the moves being made in some states to introduce these cattle ranching settlements. I warn Governor Peter Mbah and others not to go ahead with such projects. They will face the consequences of angering the people of Biafraland,” Edoziem stated firmly.
The IPOB statement also touched on a broader concern—what it views as external pressures from “imperial powers” seeking to destabilize the region. IPOB has long accused the federal government of pandering to foreign interests that seek to control the resources and people of the South-East. According to Edoziem, these forces may be behind the push for RUGA settlements, which IPOB believes are part of a larger plan to “conquer” the Igbo people.
“Let no one be mistaken,” Edoziem warned. “The land of Biafra will consume those who come with ill intentions. If the Tinubu administration chooses to continue its efforts to bring RUGA into Biafraland, it will only add more problems to its already crowded agenda. Our people will not accept it.”
This recent warning from IPOB is not the first time the group has raised concerns about government actions in the South-East. In previous months, IPOB has vocally opposed military operations and any forms of state-sponsored land allocations that may negatively affect the South-East’s communities.
The group’s declaration has sparked intense debate across Nigeria, with many across the South-East expressing solidarity with IPOB’s stance, while others argue that such policies might offer potential solutions to the farmer-herder conflicts in the region. However, the overwhelming sentiment among IPOB supporters and many local leaders is that these policies are part of a larger strategy to undermine the cultural and political autonomy of the Igbo people.
In response to IPOB’s statement, political analysts and commentators have warned that tensions in the South-East could escalate if the federal government does not heed IPOB’s warning. Some have pointed to the region’s history of resistance to federal control, which dates back to the Nigerian Civil War, as a backdrop to the current situation.
The ongoing concerns about RUGA and cattle ranching are also being watched closely by other regional groups in Nigeria, as the controversy is expected to fuel further debates about land ownership, regional autonomy, and ethnic relations in the country. IPOB’s vocal opposition to these schemes has highlighted the deep divisions between the South-East and the federal government, which continue to simmer beneath the surface of Nigerian politics.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether President Tinubu’s administration will back down from its efforts to implement these projects or whether the tensions will intensify into a more significant confrontation. For now, IPOB’s message to the federal government is clear: any attempt to impose RUGA or similar schemes on the South-East will be met with strong resistance, and the people of Biafraland will not be conquered.
