Federal Government the cause of the killings by IPOB.

IPOB condemns the killing me of security personnel in Imo as they accused FGN as the architect of these killings. Read more...

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has strongly denounced a violent attack that resulted in the tragic deaths of eight joint security personnel, including Nigerian police officers, military officers, and officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) in the Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.

On Tuesday, unidentified gunmen ambushed and fatally shot eight officials of the Joint Task Force (JTF) at Eke Nku, Umualumaku, within the local government area. Among the victims were two Nigerian Navy staff, two officials from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), two soldiers, and two police personnel.

In response to this attack, IPOB released a statement on Thursday through its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, condemning the act as a reckless and unnecessary shedding of blood, emphasizing that such violence is not in line with the pursuit of Biafra freedom in their territory.

Powerful noted that IPOB's agitation for Biafra, which began in 2012, had been predominantly peaceful until the Nigerian government allegedly started backing splinter groups to discredit IPOB and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu. He alleged that the Nigerian government sponsors criminal activities in the South-East to tarnish IPOB's non-violent image and to implicate the Eastern Security Network (ESN), an armed wing of IPOB, which was created as a response to perceived threats.

According to Powerful, the Nigerian government is well aware of the individuals behind this recent attack on security personnel and insinuated that they may be collaborating to tarnish IPOB's reputation. He argued that sacrificing police and military officers for the purpose of blackmail against IPOB had been a recurring strategy.

IPOB called on the Nigerian government to focus on apprehending the culprits responsible for the deaths of the police officers in Ehime Mbano, rather than targeting innocent villagers. They warned against any invasion of the Ehime Mbano community by security forces, stressing that the villagers are innocent and that security forces should use their intelligence to identify the true perpetrators.

Additionally, IPOB condemned the widespread police and military roadblocks across the Southeastern region, expressing concerns about extortion from motorists. They urged the Nigerian security forces to dismantle these illegal roadblocks while also criticizing their ineffectiveness in curbing criminal activities in the region.

In conclusion, IPOB called for a more measured approach in handling the situation, emphasizing the sanctity of human life and the need to protect innocent citizens while addressing security concerns.