The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has rejected the Nigerian military's claims that it has raided and disbanded camps belonging to the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Imo and Abia states. According to IPOB, the military's announcement is part of a fabricated narrative aimed at discrediting the organization.
In a statement released on Tuesday and shared with South-East PUNCH, IPOB clarified that it has distanced itself from any criminal activities in the regions mentioned. The group accused the military of perpetuating false information, asserting that the alleged camps at Okigwe and Isiukwuato, as well as others, are not associated with IPOB or ESN.
IPOB contended that the criminals operating in these areas are actually infiltrators recruited and sponsored by the Nigerian government to undermine the legitimate self-determination efforts led by IPOB. The group alleged that these infiltrators, who were initially misrepresented as ESN operatives, are responsible for criminal activities such as kidnappings, extortion, and assassinations.
The statement further claimed that recent actions by the Nigerian military are attempts to justify their operations against these infiltrators under the guise of targeting IPOB. IPOB criticized the government and security forces for failing to distinguish between genuine IPOB-ESN members and the criminal elements, thereby damaging the reputation of the movement.
IPOB reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful struggle for self-determination and criticized the government for allegedly funding and exacerbating insecurity in the Biafra region. The group insisted that its agitation for a UN-supervised referendum remains lawful and urged the Nigerian government to facilitate this process.
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