Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denied any responsibility for the gruesome murder of eight Northerners living in Orogwe, a suburb community in Owerri, Imo State.
In a statement on Saturday, the group’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, alleged that security agencies are conniving with the Ebubeagu militia group to kill innocent people in order to blackmail the group.
The group described the Nigeria Police and Ebubeagu as “partners in crime.”
IPOB dismissed as “laughable and fabricated,” claims that its members were responsible for the heinous act.
The pro-Biafra movement said its members would never attack any peaceful individual or group of people doing legitimate business in ‘Biafra territory.’
The statement read in part: “Our attention has been drawn to the laughable disgraceful, unguarded and fabricated statement alleging that IPOB members were responsible for the gruesome murder of eight northern people living in Orogwe suburb community in Owerri, Imo State.
“It is unfortunate that the Federal Government and its security agencies would descend so low to collude with the Ebubeagu militia that was created by Governor Hope Uzodimma and his government to kill innocent people just to blackmail the IPOB.
“Is the Government not tired of this wicked propaganda and blood shedding of innocent Imo civilians in the East just to blackmail and demonise the IPOB?
“The IPOB has not, and will never attack any peaceful individual or group of people doing legitimate business or trading in our territory. We are only after those criminals and bandits they brought into our territory masquerading as Fulani herdsmen who kidnap for ransom, rape our women and murder our farmers in our forests and bushes.
“The IPOB will never succumb to pressure and blackmail from pursuing those terrorists masquerading as herdsmen in our bushes and forests. The ESN has been dealing and dislodging those sponsored terrorists and will continue to do so until they vacate our forest and bushes. Therefore, Nigeria Police and its sister security agencies operating in Biafra land should leave IPOB alone to sanitise our territory of terrorists.
“The IPOB had several times said that we have nothing against Hausa people living peacefully and doing their legitimate businesses. Anybody linking IPOB to the recent attack in Imo State is doing that to demonise and blackmail IPOB.
“IPOB did not harm or kill anyone in Imo State on Monday because we are peaceful and have not indulged in enforcing non-existent Monday sit-at-home order. We are focused on rescuing Biafrans from damnable Nigeria Republic.
“Biafrans should be aware that Nigeria’s compromised security agencies are complicit in the numerous kidnappings for ransom and killing of innocent citizens in the East which they maliciously blame on the IPOB and ESN. They are doing all these barbaric activities to place the IPOB in bad light before our people and the international community.”
