The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has dissociated its Eastern Security Network (ESN) from a viral video of dislodged criminals in Orsu Mother-Valley, Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State, reportedly being spread by the Odimma Orsu Initiative.
The group also distanced itself and the ESN from the violence and atrocities that recently occurred in Orsu and other communities in Imo and Anambra states.
In a statement released on Thursday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB accused the Nigerian government of sponsoring criminal elements to impersonate ESN and tarnish IPOB’s image.
According to IPOB, since 2021, it has continually disassociated itself from armed criminals operating from the hideout known as Mother-Valley in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State.
IPOB claimed that the Nigerian government recruited the individuals following the extraordinary rendition and detention of its leader Nnamdi Kanu.
The group further alleged that a faction led by Finland-based Simon Ekpa, who is currently facing terrorism charges in Finland, was responsible for the crimes committed under the guise of Biafra agitation.
The statement described Ekpa’s group as state-sponsored agents used to destabilise Igbo communities, kidnap, and murder innocent people while falsely claiming affiliation with ESN.
“The Nigerian security forces were well aware of these criminals’ activities and hideouts. Despite IPOB’s consistent efforts to expose them, the government refused to acknowledge their real identities.
“Instead, the authorities deliberately linked their crimes to IPOB and ESN to discredit our movement,” IPOB stated.
Furthermore, IPOB criticised the Nigerian security forces for allegedly allowing the criminals to operate for nearly four years before taking action, only after Ekpa’s arrest.
It questioned why similar efforts had not been directed at combating armed herdsmen or terrorists accused of attacking and displacing communities in the region.
“The government’s agenda has always been to destabilise Alaigbo and discredit IPOB’s struggle for Biafra.
“This orchestrated violence was a ploy to weaken our self-defence efforts and pave the way for further insecurity in our land,” the statement read.
IPOB reiterated that ESN remains committed to its original mandate of securing Igbo land from external aggressors and does not engage in acts of violence against the people it was created to protect.
The group urged the public to remain vigilant and not fall for government propaganda intended to weaken the Biafra movement.
