The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has strongly condemned the Nigerian Army over claims of arresting the “founding father of IPOB ESN.” IPOB dismissed this as a fabricated attempt to influence the judicial process ahead of the impending case involving its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, regarding the group’s proscription.
In a statement released Saturday by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, the pro-Biafra group criticized the Army, urging it to stop using false information to sway judicial decisions.
“We, the noble family of IPOB, led by Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu, want to expose this latest desperate attempt by the Nigerian Army to interfere in our leader’s upcoming court case concerning IPOB’s unlawful proscription. Like previous efforts, this one is bound to fail,” the statement read.
The Army’s claim of detaining IPOB’s “founding father” was met with scorn from IPOB, who questioned the existence of such a figure within their ranks. “Is there also a ‘founding mother’ of IPOB?” the statement mocked, accusing the Army of tarnishing its own reputation.
Powerful stressed that the origins of IPOB are public knowledge, calling the Army’s claims “childish antics.” He further questioned the Army’s awareness of Kanu’s established role as IPOB’s founder, particularly after the military’s raid on Kanu’s residence on October 14, 2017.
“Does the Nigerian Army not know that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is recognized as IPOB’s founder, as indicated in the leading charges against him?” he asked.
Powerful also pointed out a pattern of Army press conferences designed to pressure judges handling cases related to Kanu or IPOB. These press releases, he claimed, aim to influence case adjournments or bias rulings against Kanu and the movement.
“This propaganda has to stop, and the public should disregard such misleading information. Perhaps, next time, they could even name IPOB’s ‘founding mother,’” the statement concluded.
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