The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its security wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), have rejected statements from the Imo State Police Command asserting that they have dismantled camps linked to the groups. In a statement released on Sunday by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the organization categorically denied the existence of any camps in Okigwe, Imo State.
IPOB clarified that it does not have camps in Umulolo in Okigwe or the Owerri environs of Imo State. The Nigerian Army had accused the group members of engaging in cannibalism, alleging that its troops had raided camps in Okigwe, recovering arms and discovering deceased individuals.
The IPOB statement reads, “The global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, led by the great and indefatigable leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wishes to debunk the fallacious claims from the Nigeria Police, Imo State command that they have cleared the camp of IPOB/ESN operatives in Umulolo at Okigwe and Owerri environs of Imo State.
“The Nigerian government and her security agencies cannot continue to claim ignorance of IPOB’s repeated disassociation with the criminals operating around the Okigwe and Owerri axis. We understand that the Nigerian Police are working with agent provocateurs to blackmail IPOB, but we are always ahead of their games.
“In our previous press releases, we have called out the criminals and agent provocateurs heavily funded by some politicians and businessmen and women, who operate camps at Umulolo and other parts of Okigwe LGA in Imo State. “We have publicly condemned the camp and activities of the criminals working with the government’s double agent in Finland.
“For emphasis’s sake, ESN does not have any camp in the following communities: Okigwe, Mbaitolu, Arindizogu, Orsu-Ihiteukwa, Ihitenansa Imo State. Also, we do not have camps in Orsumoghu, Lilu, Ukpor, Ezinifite Nnewi, Unubi, Akwaihedi, Umunze, Isseke, Mbosi, Ihiala, Azia, Okija, and Uga Anambra State.
“Any group operating any camp in these areas and communities are not ESN operatives. They are either organized criminal gangs or agent provocateurs working with the government’s double agent in Finland. The Nigerian government and its security agencies know the truth but choose to blackmail IPOB/ESN.”