The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have denied claims by the Nigerian Army that its troops attacked and destroyed a camp belonging to the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State. In a statement issued by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group also refuted the military’s assertion of killing six ESN fighters during the operation.
Powerful stated, “This claim is part of the Nigerian Army’s blackmail and propaganda against IPOB that should be trashed. All ESN camps are intact.” He asserted that the Nigerian Army’s statement, which claimed that troops of Operation Udoka invaded an ESN camp in Abia State, is an attempt to demonize IPOB. According to him, the camp that was invaded belongs to a group called the Biafran National Guard (BNG).
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Nigerian Defence Headquarters announced that troops of Operation Udoka had arrested hundreds of suspects allegedly involved in the attack and killing of five soldiers at a checkpoint in Abia State. Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, disclosed during a bi-weekly media briefing in Abuja that the troops conducted several offensives in Abia State within the week, arresting hundreds of people in connection with the incident.
Buba stated, “Following that incident, troops conducted offensives to identify Indigenous People of Biafra and their Eastern Security Network camps scattered across the Southeast region.” He added that a forest in Iboro, in the Arochukwu Local Government Area of the State, was raided along with several other camps of these terrorist groups.
Powerful emphasized, “These groups have no affiliation with IPOB and ESN. IPOB is not the only group agitating for Biafra. The important question is, why do the Nigerian government and her security forces target IPOB alone? Even when other groups claim responsibility for violent actions, the Nigerian Army tags their actions on IPOB. IPOB is the only genuine group agitating for Biafra freedom, and the Nigerian government is well aware.”
He continued, “The latest claim by the Nigerian Army of invading and killing some of the armed agitators is one of their blackmail attempts against IPOB and ESN. Whether the Nigerian Army invaded the camp or killed the armed fighters has nothing to do with ESN operatives.”
Powerful insisted that ESN operatives had no camp in the said area and that they have no affiliation with the BNG armed group. He reiterated, “We have said it several times in our press releases that IPOB volunteers and ESN operatives know how they operate in Biafra Land. They protect Biafrans from harm and never threaten their peace. ESN operatives are under oath not to attack Biafrans but to protect and defend them from terrorists and soulless criminals.”