By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has accused the Nigerian Army of ‘lying’ against the organisation. Speaking on Tuesday, the proscribed group IPOB denied killing Igbos and eating their bodies.
IPOB said contrary to claims by security agencies, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) is not a militant group, and its operatives are not cannibals.
The group’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, reiterated that the group has no camps in Lilu, Orsumoghu in Anambra State and Mbaise, Obowo in Imo State.
Powerful, in the statement, added, “The global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), under the command and leadership of our great leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to once again, debunk the falsehood and propaganda by the Nigeria army and police against innocent Biafran youths, especially Eastern Security Network (ESN) operatives.
“The Nigeria Army Commander, as well as the Police Commissioner in Imo State, derive pleasure in dishing out fake information and falsehood to disrepute IPOB and ESN operatives.
“We, therefore, want to once again, declare that contrary to fabricated lies by the security agencies, ESN has no camp in Lilu, Orsumoghu in Anambra State, and Mbaise, Obowo, in Imo State.
“The claims by the Nigerian security agencies that they discovered IPOB/ESN camps in the affected communities are all lies concocted to blackmail us and justify further destruction of more Igbo communities by security agents. “IPOB and ESN have no camps in these communities. We are not militants nor cannibals.”
Powerful also stated: “Criminals can never be said to be IPOB/ESN members. We are not cultists. Our mission is the restoration of Biafra, and that has nothing to do with cannibalism and abominable things allegedly going on in such camps.
“Nigerian security agencies and the government of Imo State created these criminals, thinking they can demonise IPOB and ESN members, but unfortunately, they turned against innocent members of the society.”
Also yesterday, IPOB accused Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, of “going from house to house, searching for IPOB members” and arresting “many innocent youths, some of whom are still in detention facilities across the country”.
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“Hope Uzodinma, APC, and some evil politicians in Imo State are busy trying to eliminate their political opponents with the intent to blame IPOB for such atrocities. But we want the world to know that we have no hands in what is happening in Imo State.
“Hope Uzodinma instructed soldiers to go from house to house searching for IPOB members. Many innocent youths including members of IPOB were abducted, and some unaccounted for, while many others are still dumped in many detention facilities across the country,” the group alleged.
