The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has absolved itself of any involvement in the recent attacks on security operatives in the South-east.
Emma Powerful, the spokesperson of the pro-Biafra group, in a statement on Monday emphasised that its vigilante group, the Eastern Security Network, ESN, was solely created to counter terrorists, masquerading as herdsmen in the region, and not to confront Nigerian security forces.
the statement read: “The great family and movement of IPOB wish to state categorically to the general public that IPOB established the ESN as an armed vigilante group to dislodge the Fulani terrorists masquerading as herdsmen in Biafra land and not to confront the Nigerian security forces or otherwise.”
IPOB restated that since inception in December 2020, the ESN operatives have never deviated from their mandate of safeguarding the forests, bushes, and people of the South-east region.
The group attributed the recent spate of killings in the region to the terrorists the ESN was established to fight.
It further said: “These marauding terrorists are responsible for the mass murder of security personnel and defenceless communities in Nigeria. They are also responsible for the mass abductions and rape of women in Nigeria.”
IPOB accused the Nigerian government of complicity in the activities of the criminals by failing to hold them accountable, deploring accusations linking it’s operatives to recent violent incidents, including the killing of Igbo military personnel in Aba, to tarnish IPOB’s image.
“We know that the Federal Government sponsors and uses criminal elements and members of their security agencies to commit criminal actions in Biafraland for the purposes of blackmailing IPOB in the global arena,” Powerful said, insisting that IPOB remains non-violent and peaceful.
“IPOB does not have an Army. We are simply a freedom-fighting movement. IPOB and ESN are fighting for the good of the Biafran people and shall see to the pitiable end of those recruited to fight against the good of our people and the restoration of the Biafra Sovereignty,” the statement added.
