JUST IN: IPOB reacts to bloody raid of ‘ESN’ camps by Nigerian Army, reveals next move

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Friday said the camp of militants dislodged by Nigerian security forces on Wednesday does not belong to it.

In a statement by its media and publicity secretary who has the pseudonym, Emma Powerful, obtained by POLITICS NIGERIA, the proscribed group described the army’s statement as “a media propaganda”.

This newspaper recalls that the Nigerian Army had said it dislodged camps of militants of the banned IPOB in Southeast Nigeria.

In a statement on Thursday by Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director Army Public, Nigerian security forces said, on Wednesday, it conducted operations to clear criminal havens, from where members of IPOB and its armed wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN) operate at Azia, Orsumoghu, Lilu Forest, Mbosi and Uli in Ihiala and Orsu Local Government Areas of Anambra and Imo States respectively.

But IPOB contests the Army’s narration.

“Following the frustration, falsehood, and media propaganda by security agencies especially Nigeria police, army, and DSS agents masquerading as secret police in Nigeria, we the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the command and leadership of our great leader Nnamdi Kanu condemn and deny any culpability in the numerous fabricated lies, allegations, and deliberate media propaganda against IPOB and ESN operatives by Nigeria Government and its security agencies,” IPOB’s statement reads.

“We have discovered that the Nigeria Government and its security agencies have a penchant for peddling lies against innocent individuals and groups, especially those who stand in their way, and who make efforts to expose them.

“IPOB has severally explained to the public that we don’t have a camp in Orsumoghu, Lilu, in Anambra State and Mbaise, Obowo, and Isu LGA’s of Imo State but we wonder how Nigeria police would be dishing out such fallacious narrative that they busted ESN camp in these communities and most gullible minds and imitation fellows believe them.

“The camp they attacked in Orsumoghu recently does not belong to ESN nor IPOB. It is imperative to make it categorically clear to all that ESN and IPOB had before now, declared those criminals behind the said camp wanted since December 2021. The Police Commissioner in Imo State should stop peddling lies against us in his desperation to create the false impression that he is working hard.”