The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has raised fresh concerns over systemic religious persecution in Nigeria, specifically citing the enforcement of Sharia law as a tool of ‘oppression’ against non-Muslim.
The group, in a release issued on Friday and signed by its Spokesperson, Comrade Emma Powerful, 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.
IPOB 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.
It 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”).
IPOB 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.
