The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has cried out that its members in Aba, Abia and and Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, are being arrested and persecuted by Nigerian security agencies since US President, Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
The claim was part of Saturday’s statement by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, where the group lamented open persecution of its religious group, Shalon Synagogue Church of Israel.
According to IPOB, its problems began shortly after Trump pronounced Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
The statement reads, “We, the family members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, worldwide, condemn the ongoing religious persecution, harassment and arrest of IPOB members, especially those of the Shalom Synagogue Church of Israel in Aba, Abia State, last week
“Since President Trump announced US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the wave of arbitrary arrests and persecution of Biafrans that practise Judaism in Aba and Port Harcourt have dramatically increased.
“Nigerian government is setting a very ugly and dangerous precedent. Those arrested for their faith must be released immediately, including all those illegally detained for expressing their legitimately held views that they are better off in Biafra than Nigeria.
“Arresting members of Shalom Christian Church because they are connected to the Jews in Israel is religious discrimination of the worst kind.
“Every religion has a root and in as much as nobody can deny that Saudi Arabia is the root of Islam, nobody can deny that Israel is the foundation of both Judaism and later Christianity.”
