All ESN Camps Are Intact – IPOB Speaks On Nigerian Military’s Dislodging Of Abia Location
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denied the claims by the Nigerian Army that its troops attacked and destroyed a camp belonging to the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State.
IPOB in a statement issued by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, also debunked the military’s claim of killing six ESN fighters during the operation.
Powerful said “This claim is part of the Nigerian Army’s blackmail and propaganda against IPOB that should be trashed. All ESN camps are intact.”
He said the statement by the Nigerian army claiming that troops of Operation Udoka invaded ESN camp in Abia State “indicated that they are bent on demonising IPOB even when the truth is bare to the public. The invaded camp belongs to a group that called themselves Biafran National Guard (BNG).”
It was earlier reported that the Nigerian Defence Headquarters said that troops of Operation Udoka arrested hundreds of suspects allegedly involved in the attack and killing of five soldiers at a checkpoint in Abia state.
The Director, Defence Media Operation, Major General Edward Buba, who made this known on Thursday during a bi-weekly media briefing in Abuja said that the troops conducted several offensives in Abia State within the week and arrested hundreds of people in connection with the incident.
Buba said “Following that incident, troops conducted offensives and these offensives were to identify Indigenous People of Biafra and their Eastern Security Network camps scattered across the Southeast region.”
He said that a forest at Iboro in Arochukwu Local Government Area of the State was raided “among several other camps of these terrorist groups.”
But Powerful stressed, “These groups have no affiliation with IPOB and ESN. IPOB is not the only group agitating for Biafra. The important question is, why does the Nigerian government and her security forces target IPOB alone?
“Even when other groups claim responsibility for any violent actions, the Nigerian Army will tag their actions on IPOB. IPOB is the only genuine group agitating for Biafra freedom and the Nigerian government is much aware.
“The latest claim by the Nigerian Army of invading and killing some of the armed agitators is one of their blackmail against IPOB and ESN.
“Whether the Nigerian Army invaded the camp or killed the armed fighters has nothing to do with ESN operatives.”
He said that ESN operatives had no camp in the said area and “we do not have any affiliation with the BNG armed group.”
He insisted “We have said it severally during our press release that IPOB volunteers and ESN operatives know how they operate in Biafra Land.
“They protect Biafrans from harm and never threaten their peace. ESN operatives are under oath not to attack Biafrans but to protect and defend them from terrorists and soulless criminals.”
