IPOB hailed the Joint Task Force for killing six enforcers who tried to attack the palace of a traditional ruler in Orlu, Imo state, on Monday saying they were not members of the organisation
By Emma Ogbuehi
Again, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has maintained that those enforcing sit-at-home in South East are not their members but dissidents working against Biafra agenda.
Since Monday, the entire South East has been shut down in compliance or enforcement of the sit-at-home directive, which the organisation decreed in August last year to be observed every Monday or any day its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu would be appearing in court.
The ongoing exercise, which commenced on Monday, May 16, has led to confrontations with security forces in some parts of the zone.
IPOB in a statement by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful on Wednesday, exonerated its members from enforcing the directive that has rubbished the economy of the area. The group maintained that anyone still enforcing Monday sit-at-home is not a genuine IPOB member but a dissident and does not deserve any mercy.
It alleged that the aim of those enforcing the sit-at-home order and their sponsors was to kill the youths and depopulate Igbo land.
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IPOB has also disowned the six suspects killed by the Joint Task Force on Monday while attempting to attack the Palace of the Imo State chairman Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Emmanuel Okeke as their members.
The statement argued that those killed in Iheoma and Amaifeke in Orlu were not IPOB members or ESN operatives because IPOB volunteers do not enforce non-existent Monday sit-at-home.
The statement read:
“It’s not in doubt that IPOB issued Monday sit-at-home order to solidarise with our Leader but upon pleas by our mothers and elders based on its adverse effects on the economy of our people, we quickly rescinded it. Anyone still enforcing Monday sit-at-home is not a genuine IPOB member but a dissident, and doesn’t deserve any mercy.
“We have severally threatened to deal with these dissidents giving us bad name. So, we even commend security agencies for dealing with such hoodlums in the manner they deserve because of their stubbornness. IPOB is a disciplined and responsible movement. We don’t know where such hoodlums are coming from and what agenda they are pursuing but certainly not Biafra agenda.
“We, therefore, ask the security agencies to stop referring to such dissidents as IPOB members because they don’t belong to us. The security agencies should stop associating us with criminals that have no connections whatsoever with IPOB. We equally advise them to be professional in dealing with such characters so that innocent citizens are not caught in the crossfire.
“It should be noted that IPOB volunteers are not in the market or streets; they know their duty posts – in the bushes and forests of Biafra land protecting our farmlands from the Fulani terrorists masquerading as herdsmen in our territory.
“It’s unfortunate that the Nigeria security agencies are turning the truth upside down because they want the public to believe they are working hard while in reality they are pursuing an Islamist agenda. They kill innocent citizens on the streets and tag them IPOB members and ESN operatives.
“Nigeria army should leave the people of Orlu in peace and allow them go about their daily business and focus on the terrorists and bandits in the North where killings are the order of the day” the release stated.
It urged stakeholders in the region to come together and fight the criminals trying to blackmail and demonise IPOB, stressing that it has nothing to do with them.
“These criminals are kidnapping, snatching cars and killing innocent citizens claiming they are IPOB and ESN members while they are not. They deserve no mercy. They are not worthy to live. Whoever is sponsoring them should be brought to book.” IPOB said.
