The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denied allegations that its members or the Eastern Security Network (ESN) are responsible for recent attacks on security operatives in the Southeast. In a statement, IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful emphasized that the ESN was established to counter terrorists posing as herdsmen, not to engage with Nigerian security forces.
IPOB reiterated that since the ESN’s inception in December 2020, its operatives have adhered to their mandate of safeguarding the forests, bushes, and people of the South East. The group attributes the recent spate of killings in the region to the terrorists they were formed to combat, accusing them of widespread violence against both security personnel and defenseless communities across Nigeria.
IPOB accused the Nigerian government of tacitly supporting these criminals by failing to hold them accountable. The group also addressed accusations linking them to recent violent incidents, suggesting that such actions are part of a broader effort by the Federal Government to tarnish IPOB’s image.
IPOB insisted that their movement remains non-violent and peaceful, stressing that if they ever decided to take up arms, the world would be aware of it. The group maintained that both IPOB and ESN are dedicated to defending the Biafran people against those who seek to harm them and vowed to continue their fight for the restoration of Biafra sovereignty.
