The Anambra State Police Command recently apprehended three individuals in Umunze and Ozubulu, Orumba South and Ekwusigo Local Government Areas on charges of extorting money from residents and issuing death threats while posing as commanders of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the militant wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
However, Emma Powerful, the media and publicity secretary of IPOB, has vehemently refuted the allegations, claiming that no genuine member of IPOB engages in extortion. According to Powerful, these accusations are part of a deliberate effort by the Nigerian government to discredit IPOB and turn the people of Biafra against the ESN.
Powerful stated, “IPOB and ESN are not criminals. But because the Nigerian government wants to bring IPOB down and turn Biafrans against ESN, they constantly create fake news against the movement.
“When they cannot create any blackmail or propaganda against IPOB and ESN, they link every crime in Biafra Land against IPOB and ESN. In the southeast today, Nigeria DSS has created several criminal gangs to claim to be IPOB and ESN when arrested by security operatives.
“Some of these criminals were given police and army uniforms for their covert criminal operations. Even when some petty criminals are caught, the Nigerian Security Forces will force them to confess to being IPOB or ESN members. It is laughable that the Nigeria Police Force would constantly ridicule themselves in desperation to blackmail IPOB.
“IPOB and ESN do not call and threaten our people to support the movement. Neither do we engage in any activity that will harm the same people we are working to protect.
“The most IPOB can do is to solicit voluntary financial support from spirited Biafrans for sustenance of ESN to continue in their core duty of protecting our lands from Fulani invaders. No one has or can be threatened to support the struggle.”
These developments reflect the escalating tensions between IPOB and the Nigerian government, with each side vehemently defending their stance. The Nigerian authorities have yet to respond to these latest claims made by IPOB.
As the situation unfolds, it remains crucial for both sides to engage in constructive dialogue and seek peaceful resolutions to avoid further escalation of tensions in the region.
