The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has dissociated itself from a said camp discovered in Anambra forest housing suspected members of the group and its military arm, ESN.
ALL FACTS NEWSPAPER had reported that the Nigerian Army said it dislodged a camp in Lilu forest located in Ihiala LGA of Anambra state where some members of the eastern security Network (ESN) and IPOB who were getting set to enforce the Monday sit at home order.
Responding to the military’s claim in a statement on Wednesday, the Media and Publicity Secretary of the IPOB, Emma Powerful, said the Nigerian Army and its sister agencies might have engaged innocent indigenes in a face off claiming they were members of IPOB and ESN.
According to Powerful those impersonating the group were created by ‘wicked politicians’ who are desperate to discredit the separatist group.
“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. These hoodlums were a creation of wicked politicians in their desperation to discredit IPOB and ESN.”
Further in his statement, Powerful named alleged impersonators of the IPOB, carrying out criminal activities in Imo and Anambra state.
“In Orsumoghu, Nnewi South, Lilu Orsumenyi of Ihiala LGA of Anambra State these criminals whose names are Emmanuel aka (Obereagu), Innocent Obiekee from Isingwu Orsumoghu, Izuchukwu from Amaduru Orsumoghu, Ofordie aka Baby, 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 group and stop them, ESN will help them too.
“In Orlu, Imo State, these criminals whose names are Agu, 50, Vice, Ojoo are the ones impersonating ESN/IPOB members to demonise IPOB and ESN members, they are sponsored by Hope Uzodinma and his co-travellers and traitors to demonise IPOB and ESN members in Imo State.
“They and their gang are collecting illegal levies at the Eke-Ututu market in the name of ESN when they are neither ESN operatives nor IPOB family members.
“The people are collecting proceeds from innocent communities. 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.
“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 Miyeti Allah and their co-travelers destroy Biafra land.
It added that; “Again, ESN does not write letters to people or make calls to people requesting funds, funds for what we ask? IPOB and ESN have no dealings with such evil activities of these criminals who are now on the ESN watchlist. Be warned and stop giving them money in the name of ESN or IPOB volunteers.”
