The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has refuted claims that its members or the Eastern Security Network (ESN) are behind recent attacks on security agents in Nigeria’s Southeast region. In a statement released on Monday, IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful clarified that the ESN was created exclusively as an armed vigilante group to combat what they describe as terrorists posing as herdsmen, not to engage with Nigerian security forces.
“The great family and movement of IPOB wish to state categorically to the general public that IPOB established the ESN as an armed vigilante group to dislodge the Fulani terrorists masquerading as herdsmen in Biafra land and not to confront the Nigerian security forces or otherwise,” the statement asserted.
IPOB emphasized that since its inception in December 2020, the ESN has strictly adhered to its mandate of protecting the region’s forests, rural areas, and communities. The group attributed the recent violence and killings in the Southeast to the same “terrorists” they aim to counter—those they accuse of committing widespread violence, including attacks on security personnel and civilian communities across Nigeria.
“These marauding terrorists are responsible for the mass murder of security personnel and defenceless communities in Nigeria. They are also responsible for the mass abductions and rape of women in Nigeria,” IPOB’s statement read.
The group also accused the Nigerian government of indirectly supporting these terrorists by failing to take action against them. IPOB further claimed that the government uses criminal elements and security agents to commit crimes in Biafraland to discredit IPOB and undermine its image internationally.
“We know that the Federal Government sponsors and uses criminal elements and members of their security agencies to commit criminal actions in Biafraland for the purposes of blackmailing IPOB in the global arena,” Powerful stated.
IPOB maintains that it is a non-violent movement focused on the protection and restoration of Biafra sovereignty. The group underscored that it does not have a traditional army and reiterated its commitment to the Biafran cause. They vowed to continue their efforts to defend their people against perceived threats and remain dedicated to their goal of restoring Biafra.
“IPOB does not have an Army. We are simply a freedom-fighting movement. IPOB and ESN are fighting for the good of the Biafran people and shall see to the pitiable end of those recruited to fight against the good of our people and the restoration of the Biafra Sovereignty,” the statement concluded.
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