Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Two days after the killing of 14 youths said to be returning from a wedding reception in Imo State by operatives of Ebubeagu security outfit, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has declared the outfit a terrorist organisation.
IPOB in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, accused Gov. Hope Uzodinma of sponsoring the outfit which according to the pro-Biafra movement is being used for illegal operations.
The pro-Biafra group claimed that the Governor imported militia as members of Ebubeagu, accusing the outfit of responsibility for numerous killings in the state.
Below is a full text of the statement made available to Ikengaonline:
“We, the global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), under the command and leadership of our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu condemn in unequivocal terms the atrocities happening in Imo State. All these atrocities are perpetrated by Hope Uzodinma’s political thugs which he created to attack his political opponents and to demonise IPOB. IPOB realized and understood that Supreme Court Administrator of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, was sent by those who magically made him a governor from fourth position to first position after the election to depopulate Imo Youths.
“Continuous killings in Orlu, and Oru East/West LGAs of Imo State by Hope Uzodinma’s militias is disturbing. Hope started by bringing in Nigeria Army into Orlu LGA creating pandemonium and tension in Imo State before creating Ebubeagu to solidify his wicked actions against his people. He started and renewed kidnapping and slaughtering of Imo State citizens.
“Similarly, killing of our people in Enugu State by Fulani terrorists and sacking of communities in Enugu State have turned into a norm by this Fulani government of Nigeria. We condemn in uncertain terms the numerous abductions and killings going on in that state and region. Enugu State governor chief Dr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi should stand firm to confront these marauders supported by Nigeria Government and its security agencies. Back to Imo State, Hope Uzodinma allowed Fulani terrorists, bandits and some militants he contracted from Niger Delta to take over Ebubeagu he created to checkmate his political opponents and to kill anybody suspected to be IPOB member or ESN operative in Imo State.
“The public must understand that Hope Uzodinma’s Ebubeagu security militia are criminals and kidnappers and are working in collaboration with Fulani terrorists and committing all manner of terror activities and violent crimes in Imo State since he created the criminal security. Hope Uzodinma deliberately imported armed militias and terrorists in uniform to murder his people in Orlu LGA and Awo-Mmamma, Oru East and West LGAs.
“The most recent in a plethora of cold blooded murder of the youths of Imo State is the gruesome murder of 14 innocent youths who were returning from a traditional wedding on Monday 18th July, 2022. The Ebubeagu militias was supported by Nigeria security agents who were contracted by Hope Uzodinma to murder in cold blood these innocent youths of Imo State. The crime of those youths murdered in cold blood is simply being of Igbo origin.
“The Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB), is advising all the South-East Governors against the killing of our people in the region. The Eastern Governors must stop the killing of our people using imported Ebubeagu and Fulani terrorists in uniforms in the region. It’s high time Eastern Governors stopped all these state sponsored killings of our youths. They will all be held responsible for the senseless killings going on in due time.
“The South East governors are busy popping champagne and conspiring with the Nigeria DSS, Army, Fulani-controlled Ebubeagu and others in the daily killing of our innocent youths in the name of looking for the so called unknown gunmen whom they, the politicians, set up for political reasons and also in the name of looking for ESN who are busy protecting our mothers and fathers farming in the bushes and forests of Biafra land; while their counterparts in the North are busy protecting the real terrorists that have been killing people in thousands including the Army and other Nigeria security agents and giving them chieftaincy titles and political positions.
“This is why the Caliphate has no regard for most of the politicians and Elders from South-East because they are betrayers and killers of their own people. We want the South-East Governors to know that they are responsible and will be held accountable in the future for all the senseless killings of our people by the imported Nigeria security agents and Ebubeagu militias.”
