The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB has said that the claim by the Nigerian Army that its troops killed three members of the group during a raid on the hideouts of IPOB and ESN in Abia state is a lie as the ESN has no camp in Amangwu in the Ohafia area of Abia State.
IPOB called the claim a “concocted and state-sponsored media blackmail by the Nigerian military.”
According to a statement released on Friday, by the group's Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, “Nigeria's compromised security agencies, particularly the military, police, and DSS (Department of State Services) agents must stop their continuous blackmail and demonization of IPOB and ESN operatives for wanting Biafra Independence.
“The world and even the Nigerian government know that we are innocent in all their allegations. Nigerian media should do investigative journalism and not allow the government and its security agents to use and influence them against IPOB.
"Our only crime against the Nigerian state is our quest and desire to be free from a nation that hates our people.
“ESN has no business or hand in the kidnapping of an Army officer in Ebem Ohafia.
“For the Nigerian Army to claim that they raided the hideouts of Indigenous People of Biafra or Eastern Security Network in Amangwu Community, Abia State, in an attempt to rescue an abducted soldier, Staff Sergeant Bassey Ikunugwan is false.
"If there is any such camp in Amangwu Community Ohafia, it is not an ESN camp and those armed gangs at the camp are not working for IPOB.”
IPOB maintained that the move by the Nigerian Army “is a calculated attempt by the Nigerian state to blackmail IPOB anytime they invade any criminal hideout”.
“This type of blackmail is no longer holding water. It simply doesn't work anymore. We advise the Nigerian government and its security agencies to change to another
blackmail format. This one has failed!
“IPOB and our ESN operatives are disciplined gallant men and women who protect our people and do not engage in any criminality or kidnapping and snatching of cars,” the group insisted.
Earlier in a statement, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the director of army public relations, said that troops raided IPOB and ESN hideouts in Abia state.
He said, "During the search and rescue operations, contact was made with members of the proscribed armed groups resulting in exchange for fire.”
According to the Army spokesman, three of the group's members were killed, and the troops also found weapons, ammunition, and a walkie-talkie among other things.
Politics and Opinion
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