The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB says the Nigerian Army is destroying communities in Okigwe in search of political hoodlums.
The military operations in the area followed the abduction of a female Lieutenant, PP Johnson by hoodlums in the area.
But IPOB condemned the raiding of communities in the area, saying its militant wing, the Eastern Security Network has no camp in the area.
Emma Powerful, the group’s Media and Publicity Secretary accused the Imo State Governor, of supporting the raid on the communities for political reasons.
The group said: “We the global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), ably led by Onyendu, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, condemn the ongoing attacks by the Nigeria Security Agencies and Ebubeagu militia against civilians in peaceful Communities in Okigwe Provence of Imo State since one week.
“The Nigeria Army, Police, and Ebubeagu invaded Aku, Umulolo, and Ihube Communities in Okigwe LGA last week, killing people, abducting innocent citizens, and burning down properties. The surviving residents have abandoned their homes for fear of being abducted or shot dead. We are not pleased with what Hope Uzodinma and his collaborators have turned peaceful Imo State into. We don’t understand what Imo indigenes did to Hope Uzodinma and his political rivals that warrants these reckless killings and destruction from the man who claims to be a governor.
“We find what is happening very distasteful and distressing. Imo, people are dying every day and night under the supervision of Vampire Hope Uzodinma.
We are aware that many politicians in Imo State, the likes of Emeka Ihedioha, Ifeanyi Ararume, Rochas Okorocha, and many others, contributed to the insecurity in Imo State because of the political fighting and power struggle that emanated from the illegal imposition of Hope Uzodinma as Governor by the Nigeria Supreme Court.
“IPOB intelligence unit intercepted the political conspiracy against the imposed Supreme Court Governor.
“These men hired armed militias from Niger Delta to do their bidding. In turn, Hope Uzodinma hired and recruited some militants from the same Niger Delta territory, his fulanized Ebubeagu militia. These rival political armed groups have turned peaceful Imo State into a war zone.
“As these politicians fight their political rivals, the Nigeria Government capitalize on it to blackmail IPOB. Anytime Nigeria Security agents attack the camps of these political thugs and make an arrest, they are paraded, and they are told to claim to be working for IPOB or ESN as a bargain for lesser punishment or for a softer landing. In the process of attacking these political criminal camps, neighbouring communities are razed and innocent people are killed by invading terrorists soldiers. We know that the Nigerian government and her compromised security agencies are humiliating our people to spite and show hate for Mazi Nnamdi KANU and the Biafra struggle. Unfortunately, to them, our people understand the truth and the gimmicks of our enemies.
“We are calling on these cannibals in Imo State to stop their power tussle to avoid spreading sponsored insecurity to other States in Biafraland. IPOB will never be happy with them because they have not only empoverished our people but also killed many people.
“The killings going on in Okigwe may escalate if they don’t stop them.
We want to inform them, especially Hope Uzodinma, that no matter what they do, they can not kill every Imo State indigene and will never succeed in handing over any part of Biafra land to the janjaweeds.
“The Nigeria Terrorists invaded Ihube, Aku, and Umulolo in Okigwe LGA of Imo State in the last week, killing innocent villagers and burning people’s properties. Nigerian soldiers leave behind the same footprints as Fulani terrorists anytime they invade and attack any community in Biafra land. They leave tears and blood with ashes of burnt properties.
“The terrorist soldiers killed and maimed the innocent villagers in the disguise of looking for ESN. In reality, ESN doesn’t have a camp in the Okigwe area, and neither do we support criminals terrorizing the communities. It is unprofessional for the Nigerian military to invade and destroy peaceful communities with their armoured military tankers in search of political hoodlums’ camps. What is the crime of innocent communities that warranted the deployment of heavy military hardware to destroy many lives and properties?
“We call on International Community and Foreign Diplomats in Nigeria to prevail upon the Nigerian military to stop their barbarism in Biafra communities, especially in those in Imo state.
“There is no amount of blackmail or sponsored attacks that will distract IPOB from the goal of restoring a safe and independent state of Biafra”.
