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IPOB Blames Army, Police, Uzodinma For Imo Killings
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) said the Nigerian Army, Police Force, and Governor Hope Uzodinma were responsible for the innocent killings in Imo State.
A statement by the group’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, noted that the security agencies peddled false reports regarding the residents of the state to paint a negative picture of them.
The statement read in part, “Following the frustration and lack of professionalism by the Nigerian security agencies, they have as usual resorted to lies and propaganda to deceive the gullible minds.
“The Nigerian Army and police parading and killing innocent citizens in Imo State have started with falsehood to demonise their innocent victims. They can only deceive those who don’t know what is happening in Imo State since Hope Uzodinma and his APC party turned Imo State into an abattoir for innocent Biafrans.
“Nigerian security agents and Ebubeagu security members recruited by Hope Uzodinma were operating and killing innocent citizens in Imo State have lied again that they repelled Eastern Security Network (ESN) operatives who allegedly besieged the palace of Eze Emmanuel Okeke of Amaifeke in Orlu LGA Imo State.
IPOB added that it had no grouse with monarchs in the South-East, against what the security agencies are peddling as a hunt on the traditional institution.
IPOB stated that the community policing network, known as Ebubeagu, under the direction of Uzodinma, lied that it repelled operatives of the ESN after allegedly holding siege to a palace.
“This is another blatant lie from the pit of hell. IPOB/ESN operatives have no issues with traditional rulers in Biafraland but Nigeria army and police are trying to create the wrong impression that we are hunting the monarchs,” IPOB stated.
However, IPOB has warned those behind incessant attacks in the South-East, saying “they (criminal elements) have as usual resorted to lies and propaganda to deceive the gullible minds”.
Exonerating itself from the killings in the region, the group through its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, yesterday, said they have no hands in the spate of killings and abductions in any part of South-East.
The group claimed some criminal elements parading as security agents were the ones behind the incessant killings in a bid to demonise IPOB.
“It is true that we criticise some traitors among our people, including politicians, traditional rulers, and even fake religious leaders.
“Our condemnation of their unpatriotic actions against Biafra has not got to the level of going after any of them.
“Maybe very soon these criminals behind the bloodletting in our land will start going after religious leaders and blame their abominable act on IPOB and ESN.”
“The recent confession by Rochas Okorocha has vindicated us.
“Some wicked people in collaboration with the security agents are the masterminds of the insecurity in our land.
“Many buildings were burnt down in Umutanze, Amaifeke in Orlu and Orsu by compromised security agents in Imo. This madness must stop,” the group added.
Meanwhile, the Indigenous People of Biafra, through its Media and Publicity Secretary, Mr Emma Powerful, has confirmed that the group had banned recitation of the Nigerian national anthem in schools in the South-East region.
It would be recalled that IPOB, had last Monday, apart from banning the national anthem in schools, also banned the use of Fulani cows during festive seasons in the region.
Speaking with newsmen, yesterday, Powerful said the order came from the “head of directorate and leadership of the group as led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
He, however, explained that he would expatiate with further details more information as regards the directive, yesterday.
Powerful, who denied the group’s involvement in the killings and kidnappings of some monarchs in the South-East, said “shedding of blood” is not included in their mandate, but rather, the emancipation of its people from slavery.
He said, “Yes, our head of directorate and leadership made it so that Nigeria national anthem should be banned in schools, including the use of Fulani cows during festive season.
“We will work out mechanisms to ensure compliance in a non-violent manner. We are freedom fighters working for the emancipation of our people from slavery as led by our leader, MNK. We are not a violent or terrorist group.
“We are putting heads together for a more robust deliberation and before the end of the day; further details would be put out in the public domain.
“This campaign will be tagged the ‘Prisoner of conscience campaign’ and all IPOB family members, Biafrans and friends of Biafra are expected to key into this campaign.”
Also, the Indigenous People of Biafra has made known its intention to create an Education Department that would teach Igbo history in schools.
In a New Year statement signed by the group’s Head of Directorate of State, Chika Edoziem, IPOB stated that three books are ready for publication to support this effort.
“We have about three books that will be published this new year in furtherance of this. After the head of this department is made public, Biafran writers will be called upon to bring forward books and educational materials to be published for our children in primary and secondary schools,” the statement reads in part.
Meanwhile, IPOB has stated that it would start a worldwide campaign for the release of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is detained by the Nigerian government on charges of treason.
This came in a statement signed by Edoziem and IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, which outlined the group’s activities for the year 2022.
The proscribed group added that it would take the campaign to embassies and international governments and organisations to spread its message.
The statement read in part, “Secondly all IPOB families worldwide are hereby directed to activate the earlier instruction passed down to them. We shall embark on a worldwide protest in cities and capitals around the world.
“The campaign will be called, ‘The Prisoner of Conscience Campaign’. In furtherance of this campaign, all IPOB family members, Biafrans and friends of Biafra are hereby urged to change their profile pictures on social media with our official campaign poster.
“The focus of our protest shall be British Embassies, the British Parliament, 10 Downing Street, the Kenyan Embassies, the Nigerian Embassies and international organisations like the UN, the EU, Amnesty International and media houses.”
Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.