The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a strong statement addressing the ongoing debate over Sharia law in Nigeria, declaring that the controversy underscores what it described as the “impossibility of coexistence” under the country’s present structure.
In a press statement dated February 27, 2026, and signed by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, the group referenced a report allegedly submitted by Riley Moore to former United States President Donald Trump concerning the purported repeal of Sharia penal codes in parts of Nigeria.
IPOB maintained that while it respects the rights of Muslims to practice their religion, including the application of Sharia law within their communities, it opposes what it termed the imposition of such laws on non-Muslims.
The group alleged that non-Muslim communities, particularly Christians in parts of Northern Nigeria, face persecution and that the Nigerian state has failed to guarantee adequate protection for all citizens regardless of religious affiliation.
According to the statement, “Shariah, when enforced beyond its proper community, becomes a weapon of oppression, not a system of justice,” adding that Nigeria’s constitutional secularism remains questionable due to what it described as conflicting legal systems operating within the same territory.
IPOB further reiterated its long-standing call for the restoration of Biafra, insisting that an independent state would guarantee religious freedom, security, and equal citizenship for all residents. The group stated that in a sovereign Biafra, individuals of all faiths would be free to practice their religion without fear.
The statement also called on the United States Congress, the Israeli Knesset, and the wider international community to take note of what it described as systemic targeting of non-Muslims in Nigeria.
IPOB is led by Nnamdi Kanu and has consistently advocated for the secession of southeastern Nigeria to form an independent Biafran state.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the Nigerian government regarding IPOB’s latest claims.