IPOB Disassociates Self, ESN, From Enugu Govt’s Claims of Criminality
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has fired a warning at the Enugu state government for linking it and its militant wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN), with criminals alleged to be backed by Finland-based Simon Ekpa-led.
In a statement released on Thursday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB discredited these claims.
Powerful described the claims by Governor Peter Mbah’s administration as untrue and lacking in merit.
Officers of the Nigeria Police Force, 2week ago, killed 27 kidnappers in a shootout in Enugu state.
The Enugu state government moved to brandish the criminals as ESN operatives loyal to Simon Ekpa.
Powerful has now labelled the allegation as a “malicious intent” to smear the ESN and IPOB.
“In the usual malicious intent of the Nigerian governmental bodies, the police claimed that the so-called neutralised criminals were ESN operatives loyal to Autopilot IPOB.
“For a long time, IPOB has maintained that there is nothing like Autopilot in IPOB.
“The criminals and kidnappers have nothing in common with IPOB, ESN, and the Biafra struggle.
“The Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mba and the Nigeria Police in Enugu State should stop being maliciously mischievous. They should stop the unnecessary blackmail against IPOB and call the criminals by their name.
“Already, the criminals captured said where they belong, and it is not with the IPOB’s Eastern Security Network (ESN).
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“We are warning the Enugu State Governor’s media office to desist from linking ESN and IPOB to the self-acclaimed Autopilot leader, a double agent in Finland, and his criminals in Enugu, and anywhere else,” Powerful said.
Powerful pointed out that the ESN are under the command of the Directorate of States (DOS) of the IPOB and that there are no factions within it.
“IPOB has no faction nor any affiliates. If not IPOB, it’s not IPOB,” he stressed, adding, “The group by themselves have stated that they do not belong to IPOB and ESN, why is the Nigerian government and her security forces forcing them on IPOB and keep associating them with IPOB and ESN?
“ESN operatives don’t get involved in any criminal activities.
“They are disciplined vigilantes who are strictly focused on their mandate of dislodging terrorists and herdsmen from destroying our farmers and farmlands.
“ESN operatives have never been involved in crimes, nor have they threatened the peace and security of South-East that they vowed to protect,” the statement read.
