ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has expressed fresh concerns over religious freedom in Nigeria, warning that the enforcement of Sharia law in parts of the country poses risks to non-Muslim communities.
In a statement issued on February 27, 2026, and signed by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group said it respects the rights of Muslims to practise their faith but opposed what it described as the extension or imposition of Sharia beyond Muslim populations.
According to IPOB, such enforcement amounts to discrimination against Christians, Jews and other religious minorities, particularly in some northern states.
The group referenced reports submitted by Riley Moore to former U.S. President Donald Trump, which it said highlighted concerns over the safety of non-Muslims under Sharia-based systems.
IPOB argued that Nigeria’s legal structure appears fragmented, with overlapping codes that, in its view, have not adequately shielded vulnerable groups from attacks.
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“Sharia, when enforced beyond its proper community, becomes a weapon of oppression, not a system of justice,” the statement read.
IPOB further alleged that incidents of violence targeting Christians and other non-Muslims have occurred in states including Sokoto, Borno and Plateau, urging authorities to uphold constitutional protections for all citizens.
Reiterating its long-standing demand for self-determination, the group maintained that the creation of a sovereign Biafra would guarantee freedom of worship and equal citizenship.
It pledged that in a Biafra nation, persecuted groups would enjoy full rights under principles it described as tolerance and coexistence, citing the Igbo maxim “Egbe bere, Ugo bere” (live and let live).
The group also appealed to international actors, including the U.S. Congress and the Israeli parliament, to pay attention to the situation of religious minorities in Nigeria.