IPOB warns of religious persecution in Nigeria, calls for Biafra as safe haven

2026-02-27 - 15:27

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has raised fresh concerns over religious freedom in Nigeria, stressing that the enforcement of Sharia law in parts of the country threatens the safety and basic rights of non-Muslim communities. In a press statement released on February 27, 2026, signed by Comrade Emma Powerful, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, the group said that while it respects the right of Muslims to practice their faith, the imposition of Sharia beyond Muslim communities amounts to persecution and a denial of fundamental freedoms to Christians, Jews, and other religious groups in the North. The group cited reports, including one submitted by Riley Moore to former U.S. President Donald Trump, highlighting the dangers faced by non-Muslims under Sharia enforcement. IPOB described Nigeria’s legal system as fractured, with conflicting codes that fail to protect citizens from targeted violence. “Sharia, when enforced beyond its proper community, becomes a weapon of oppression, not a system of justice,” the statement said, adding that religiously motivated attacks against Christians and non-Muslims are widespread—from Sokoto to Borno and Plateau states. IPOB reiterated its position that the establishment of a sovereign Biafra nation-state is necessary to guarantee the protection of life, religion, and human dignity. The group pledged that in a free Biafra, all non-Muslims and persecuted groups would enjoy full citizenship and the right to live freely under principles of tolerance and coexistence, referencing the Igbo ethic of Egbe bere, Ugo bere (“live and let live”). The IPOB statement also called on international actors, including the U.S. Congress and the Israeli Knesset, to acknowledge the dangers facing non-Muslims in Nigeria and support efforts to create a secure homeland for all persecuted groups.