The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Monday, denied any intention to disrupt the 2023 general elections.
It also said that it has no interest in the exercise or has a link in the burning of facilities belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
IPOB stated this in a release by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful and made available to newsmen in Awka Anambra’s state capital.
The group specifically dissociated its members from attacks on the facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in Imo State.
The pro-Biafra movement told security agencies to stop linking it with the senseless attacks on INEC facilities.
IPOB promised hard times for anybody engaging in the destruction of INEC facilities and pretending to be doing so on behalf of the pro-Biafra movement.
“ESN operatives never attacked the INEC office because we are not interested in this Nigeria’s forthcoming election in 2023. Anyone or group blaming IPOB or ESN for any attack on INEC facilities is under the influence of some powerful drugs.”
“IPOB will not spare anybody using our name to disrupt the election, and nobody should link us with those who are destroying election materials.”
IPOB accused security agencies of hoarding information about the true identities of those behind the attacks on INEC facilities.
IPOB wondered why the security agencies have not made arrests of the purported attackers if they were truly IPOB members.
“Both Government agencies and those attacking INEC facilities are working together to blackmail IPOB.
“That is why the same security agencies have never arrested any of the so-called attackers.
“Our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has said it several times that he has not asked anyone to carry out any attack on his behalf. Therefore, nobody should link us with the attack on INEC offices.
”IPOB is a civilized and disciplined Biafra Independence movement. We are not criminals nor are we part of their election thugs.”
IPOB accused politicians of recruiting criminals and hoodlums “to attack election materials and blame it on IPOB and ESN.”
The statement, however, said that no amount of sponsored blackmail against IPOB would stop the agitation for Biafra restoration, adding that it will rather fuel the agitation.
According to the statement, the desperation to link IPOB with attacks on INEC is part of the grand plan by those opposed to Biafra restoration to truncate the project.
The statement made available to newsmen further read:” Neither IPOB nor ESN operatives have anything to do with Nigeria’s fraudulent elections in 2023.
“We have never supported nor involved ourselves in any election obstruction or violence as a movement. The only action we can take is to call our people to boycott voting if the need arises. But as of today, IPOB is not interested in Nigeria and its electoral activities and has never asked anyone to carry out any attack on our behalf.
“For the Nigeria Government and her Police to link IPOB and ESN with the attacks on INEC offices has shown that they are misguided, deceitful, and don’t know the norms on which IPOB operates.”
“Nigeria Government and her security agencies are working day and night to blackmail the IPOB self-determination movement. Criminals attack government facilities and they rush to the media to blame the attacks on IPOB and ESN without investigation.
” There has never been any time that Nigeria Police carried out any public inquiry on all the numerous attacks and arsons that they blamed IPOB for.”
