The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has distanced itself to the killing of four oil workers of Lee Engineering Company by gunmen in the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State on Monday.
The group stated that some enemies were trying to dent its image by linking it to the killing.
IPOB in a statement by Emma Powerful, its media and publicity secretary said, “The attention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been drawn to the fabricated falsehood being peddled by our enemies that IPOB killed oil workers in Etekuru community and Asa in Ohaji council of Imo State.
“This is a complete falsehood to tarnish our global reputation. We have no hand in such barbarity. We are not bandits or terrorists that spill blood; IPOB is a non-violent and peaceful movement whose agenda is the restoration of Biafra. Killing or maiming of innocent lives is not part of our mandate.
“This won’t be the first time enemies of the struggle will be linking us with such atrocity in their desperate but futile attempt to blackmail us but we are innocent of it all. We, therefore, urge members of the public to disregard this unfounded propaganda which is the antics of our enemies.”
The group stated that the suspended sit-at-home order on Monday exonerates its members from such a callous act, calling on the affected company to probe the incident.
“A further proof that this allegation does not hold water is the fact that even before the purported killings, IPOB had in well-circulated publications at two different times, announced the cancellation of sit-at-home orders on Mondays. So, on what basis will IPOB still go and enforce the same order it had suspended?
“We suspended the sit-at-home order and anybody enforcing sit at home on the day we suspended must have been sponsored by Nigerian government and her security agencies to blackmail IPOB. We have no business with oil companies and their workers in Ohaji or any other place. The oil companies should investigate this attack thoroughly and know who was involved in this act,” Powerful added in the statement.
