
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has rebuffed allegations that its security arm, Eastern Security Network (ESN) is behind violent attacks on police and military checkpoints in the South East,saying the allegation is a plot to launch military operation in the area.
The group denied allegation by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, that the personnel of ESN are responsible for the series of attacks on security agents in South East and South South in the recent times.
Emma Powerful,the group’s Publicity Secretary,said he was not surprised that “the Nigeria Government will easily point accusing fingers at it because that is their usual antics to justify fresh military operation in the South East and South South to kill more innocent and unarmed Biafrans”.
It reiterated that ESN is not after security agents but terrorists rampaging communities of the South East and South South and that the ESN operates in the bushes and not in the cities.
It said: “Neither ESN nor IPOB is involved in the purported attacks against security agents. This is another fabricated lie by the Nigeria military to blackmail the security outfit and have another excuse to attack innocent people.ESN is not ‘unknown gunmen’ reported to be responsible for the said attacks. ESN is identifiable and has a mandate.
“Its mandate is to protect the Eastern region against terrorists and the killer herdsmen. Unless the military is telling us that they are coming to defend the terrorsts occupying our forests, otherwise ESN has no business with security agencies.ESN is not a terrorist group and cannot be treated as such. The security outfit is a child of necessity born out of the compelling need to protect our people against terrorists’ invasion following the shameful failure of South East governors to float a regional security outfit.