Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The family of the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has expressed shock over the pointing of fingers at the former Governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji, Senator representing Abia Central; his son and Speaker of the Abia House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji; the Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu; and former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Charles Ogbonnaya, as sponsors of insecurity in the state.
Kanu’s family said nobody should be indicted for any crime “until thorough investigations and verifiable evidence are established.”
Ikengaonline reports that IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, had in a statement earlier in the week, accused the above individuals of masterminding insecurity in the state.
IPOB had in the statement, warned them to desist or be dealt with.
The statement read in part: “Those our intelligence unit uncovered sponsoring these criminals are Chief Charles Ogbonna (Evuluogu Ibeku), RT. Hon. Ude Uko Chukwu, Chief Chimedum Orji, Ikuku, the son of T. A. Orji.”
“Anyone who knows these people whose names are mentioned above should advise them to retrace their steps because if they continue on this evil part, they shall regret their actions. IPOB will not warn them or mention their names again. Soon these monsters they created will turn their attention to them.
“IPOB has embarked on uprooting all cultist members and hoodlums in Abia state and will extend this action against cultists in Anambra State and the entire region. It is unacceptable to us for people destroying our region and claiming they are IPOB or ESN operatives, while in reality they are not.
“Anybody who is associating with and who knows these criminal groups in the region must inform them that IPOB is coming to visit them, and their evil sponsors and they should therefore be prepared for what is coming after them soon.
“We will not allow that nonsense to continue anymore in our region. Those sponsors across the region, your days are numbered.”
Meanwhile, Kanu’s family who spoke through Kalunta Kanu, expressed surprise over the veracity of the intelligence that led to the conclusion.
The family said that their son currently in detention would not appreciate the involvement of IPOB with matters outside the group’s core mandate which is the restoration of Biafra.
They asked politicians to “settle their issues and leave IPOB alone.”