The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has dismissed as “laughable” the accusation that it beheaded two soldiers – a couple – who were attacked on their way to their traditional wedding.
The army blamed IPOB for the killings which happened in Imo state over the weekend.
IPOB in a statement by Comrade Emma Powerful, Director of Media and Publicity Secretary which was made available to the newsmen, said that no true Igbo would hurt an in-law, how much more a married daughter (Ada) in Igbo land.
The group said, “We are the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) under the command of our in-depth eligible Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Our attention has been drawn to the laughable and fallacious statement credited to the Nigeria Army that IPOB is responsible for the killing of the couple on transit in Imo State after their marriage ceremony.”
“We, therefore, wish to place on record that IPOB has no hands in the said atrocity which is an abominable act in Igbo tradition. No true Igbo will hurt an in-law, how much more a married daughter ( Ada) in Igbo land. Even the ancestors will avenge such wickedness.”
According to IPOB, “Before the Army jumped into their jaundiced conclusion that such abominable act was masterminded by IPOB, what investigations did they carry out to substantiate their claims? When have gunmen or criminals recruited by evil politicians in connivance with the same security agencies in their desperation to demonize IPOB, become IPOB members?
“The compromised and Fulani- dominated Nigeria security agencies, particularly the Nigeria military is behind the ongoing secret genocide in Biafra land under the guise of hunting for IPOB members while the real mass murderers, the Fulani bandits are on the prowl in Northern Nigeria.”
“They have always looked for an occasion to attack innocent Igbo youths. Who knows the number of innocent Biafrans they will rope in in the aftermath of this abominable act and tag them the suspects?
Emma Powerful said, “The Nigeria Army should leave IPOB alone because we are not unknown gunmen and those who are pursuing them. The monster they created is now after them, yet they keep pointing accusing fingers at us.”
“The latest allegation is part of their propaganda to stain our global reputation but the world knows they are lying. How come the Fulani bandits and terrorists beheading and massacring Indigenous Nigerians, particularly in Southern Kaduna and plates state go unpunished while the Mighty Nigeria Army is down South flexing muscles with innocent and unarmed IPOB members and citizens of South East?
It noted that *Fulani bandits have not stopped killing both innocent citizens and security agents yet the NIGERIA Army has never made it a media issue or burnt down their houses and properties. But any time these hoodlums they jointly created with evil and greedy politicians in Biafra land commit atrocity they will quickly rush to the press and accuse IPOB without investigations.”
“We understand their game plan. All they are after is to blackmail IPOB before our international friends who understand our predicaments in the region. Keen watchers who are honest can testify that any time hoodlums carry out their evil act in Biafra land the Nigeria Army or Police will rush to the press and say IPOB was behind it so that Google will be flooded with the stories that IPOB is now a terrorist organization but we are not.”
“But ironically when worse crimes are committed in the North by Fulani bandits and other Fulani terrorists in the North, the same hypocritical security agencies will keep mute and it is clear to all that most crimes and atrocities committed in the region were masterminded by retired soldier and police or serving security agents within the region of South East.”
“Instead, they will begin to look for ways of absolving themselves. Can the world now see that Nigeria is a terrorist country, those serving in the country are terrorists shielding the real Killers but persecuting the innocent? Our only crime is that we want to be self-determined.”
The group stated that Nigeria should try us and allow us our independence then let’s know which country will harbor terrorists.
The body wondered, “How come it’s only in Nigeria that IPOB The members are cannibals? When will they stop lying against us? Nigeria security agencies should please leave us alone.”
“We hate bloodletting. We are not Killers. We have on our own been battling these same criminals those we can lay our hands on that are unleashing sorrow even on our innocent people. God will judge all those trying to paint us black for black and evil we know nothing about.”
“We cannot kill our sister who is about to marry but those who killed them were those NigeriaNigerian government and its security agencies, especially the military and DSS created to demonize IPOB and ESN but your evil deeds are now hunting you. These agents of death some of whom we have made their identities public severally are behind the killings of these soldiers, not IPOB or ESN operatives.”
“IPOB/ESN made it categorically clear to all and sundry severally that we are not unknown gunmen and can never be, but because of hatred and envy Nigeria Government and its security agencies have continued to link us with atrocities going-on in our land.”
They said, “We are letting the world know that Nigeria Army and police are confused institutions. They are beclouded to see the truth because of their bias against us and delivering good jobs correctly.”
“IPOB is and will remain a non-violent movement. No amount of blackmail by the Nigeria Government and its compromised security agencies cannot make us change our resolve to restore Biafra through nonviolence,” the group stated.