The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denied claims that its security arm, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), kidnapped a soldier in Abia State’s Ebem Ohafia.
The separatist group, which stated that it had no involvement in the kidnapping of the soldier identified as Bassey Ikunugwan, stated that its men and women are brave people who do not kidnap for money.
IPOB has also denied that the Nigerian Army attacked ESN hideouts in the state’s Amangwu community in an attempt to recover the abducted soldier.
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Anaedoonline.ng has learned that the organisation, in a statement signed by its Media and Publicity Secretary Emma Powerful on Friday, disclosed that ESN operatives do not have a camp in Amangwu Ohafia, as the army claimed to have raided.
The group further claimed that its security camps are secure and sacrosanct lands, thus the camp raided by the army in that location is not ESN, and that the armed gangs who burst into that camp did not work for them.
IPOB said that the soldier’s kidnapping, the raid, and all other accusations leveled against it were planned attempts by the federal government and its security agencies to blackmail the group.
It did, however, urge on security agencies, particularly the military, police, and DSS, to stop blackmailing and demonizing IPOB and ESN activists.
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“We wish to debunk concocted and state-sponsored media blackmail by Nigeria Military claims that they invaded ESN camp in Ohafia, Biafraland.
“We have said before now that ESN operatives do not have any camp in Amangwu Ohafia LGA. All the criminal camps that the Nigerian Army has claimed to have invaded are not ESN camps.
“ESN camps are secured and sacred territories. ESN don’t indulge in kidnapping and collecting ransom from innocent citizens who eventually lead the military to those camps.
“The security agencies particularly the Military, Police, and DSS agents must stop their continuous blackmail and demonization of IPOB and ESN operatives for wanting Biafra Independence. The World and even the Nigeria Government know that we are innocent in all their allegations.
“ESN has no business or hand in the kidnapping of an Army officer in Ebem Ohafia.
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“For Nigerian Army to claim that they raided the hideouts of Indigenous People Of Biafra or Eastern Security Network in Amangu Community, Abia State, in an attempt to rescue an abducted soldier, Staff Sergeant Bassey Ikunugwan is false.
“If there is any such camp in Amangwu Community Ohafia, it is not an ESN camp and those armed gangs at the camp are not working for IPOB.
“It is a calculated attempt by the Nigerian State to blackmail IPOB anytime they invade any criminal hideout. This type of blackmail is no longer holding water. It simply doesn’t work anymore. We advise Nigeria Government and its security agencies to change to another blackmailing format. This one has failed!
“IPOB and our ESN Operatives are disciplined gallant men and women who protect our people and do not engage in any criminality or kidnapping and snatching of cars,” the group submitted.
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