The proscribed group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), yesterday said that persons killed by the Nigerian army in the Lilu area of Anambra State are not its members.

IPOB said it has no camp in Lilu, Ihiala local government, where soldiers said on Tuesday that they killed suspected operatives of the group.

The Nigerian Army Public Relations Officer, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu had in a statement on Tuesday said the army had dislodged a notorious stronghold of IPOB and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN), in the area, in a joint operation.

But denying the claims by the army, Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Emma Powerful, in a press statement, said the group has no camp in the area.

Powerful accused the army of “criminal misrepresentation of facts against IPOB and ESN”, claiming that arrested criminals were ESN members.

The statement reads in part, “We wish to reiterate that IPOB and ESN operatives have no camp in Lilu in Ihiala LGA of Anambra State.

“We are not militants and criminals and don’t need any camp in Ihiala LGA. We are identifiable and we are all over Biafra land and IPOB branches in the Diaspora.”

According to IPOB, “Nigeria security agencies are using the hatred they have on the people of Biafra, particularly IPOB and ESN members, to unleash cruelty on the people living in these communities where they suspect that criminals are taking refuge.

“If criminals take refuge in any community in Biafra land, that doesn’t make them IPOB members or ESN operatives. We have also not said there are no more criminal gangs in Biafra land, just like every other country even in the advanced Western nations.

“But we won’t accept the tagging of every criminal element found in Biafra as an IPOB member or ESN operative.

“Recall that some of these criminals were already mentioned by IPOB leadership sometime during a broadcast. IPOB leadership said these criminals were unleashing mayhem on innocent citizens in some communities. Some of these hoodlums were a creation of wicked politicians in their desperation to discredit IPOB and ESN.”

Meanwhile, the secessionist group yesterday released names and phone numbers of some alleged criminals impersonating members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the militant arm of IPOB, have been released.

The spokesman, Emma Powerful, alleged that the names mentioned used the ESN to commit crimes against people of some communities in Imo and Anambra states.

Powerful, who also released the mobile contacts of the alleged ESN impersonators, insisted that its militia arm has no camp in Lilu, Ihiala local government area of Anambra State.

A statement by Powerful reads in part: “In Orsumoghu, Nnewi South, Lilu Orsumenyi of Ihiala LGA of Anambra State, these criminals mentioned below are the ones impersonating ESN/IPOB members using ESN name to commit crimes against the people of these communities. They are not ESN members, the communities involved should use their vigilante groups and stop them, the ESN will help them too.

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“Emmanuel aka (Obereagu), Innocent Obiekee from Isingwu Orsumoghu, Izuchukwu from Amaduru Orsumoghu, Ofordie aka Baby.”

The separatist group also accused the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, of ‘sponsoring some names to impersonate ESN’ in the state.

He added: “In Orlu, Imo State, these criminals mentioned below are impersonating ESN/IPOB members to demonize IPOB and ESN members. They are sponsored by Hope Uzodinma and his co-travelers and traitors to demonize IPOB and ESN members in Imo State.

“Agu, 50, Vice, Ojoo. Number one (No 1) and Ojoo and their gang are collecting illegal levies at Eke Ututu in the name of ESN when they are neither ESN operatives nor IPOB family members.

“The one they call Sky and Zuma are collecting proceeds from innocent communities. IGBANDA and his gangs are also collecting N5,000 from Orlu people in the name of ESN.

These names mentioned or listed in this press statement have been declared persona non-grata in Biafraland, and they remain so.

People must stop giving them money; they are not ESN operatives and not IPOB volunteers.”

“Contact these numbers to report any crime from individuals, cult groups, or criminal gangs using the name of IPOB/ESN to commit crimes. The numbers +1248 949 4843, +61434294745.

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“They have been kidnapping people, snatching cars, and raping our women in our territory.

“IPOB volunteers and ESN operatives have also been making efforts to apprehend these agents of sorrow. We cannot watch these beasts created and sponsored by Hope Uzodinma, his masters in Miyetti Allah, and their co-travelers to destroy Biafra land.”