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The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) has denied involvement in the murder of an Army couple in Imo State.
It described the statement credited to the Army, saying it was responsible for the murder, as laughable and fallacious.
A statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, warned security agencies to leave the group alone.
The statement reads: “IPOB has no hand in the said atrocity which is an abominable act in Igbo tradition. No true Igbo will hurt an in-law, how much more a married daughter (Ada) in Igbo land. Even the ancestors will avenge such wickedness.
“Before the Army jumped into their jaundiced conclusion that the abominable act was masterminded by IPOB, what investigations did it carry out to substantiate its claims? When have armed gunmen or criminals, recruited by evil politicians in connivance with the same security agencies in their desperation to demonise IPOB, become IPOB members?
“The compromised security agencies, particularly the military, are behind the ongoing secret genocide in Biafra land under the guise of hunting for IPOB members while the real mass murderers are on the prowl in the North. They have always looked for occasion to attack innocent Igbo youths. Who knows the number of innocent Biafrans they will rope in the aftermath of this act and tag them the suspects?
“The Army should leave IPOB alone because we are not unknown gunmen and those pursuing them. The monster they created is now after them, yet they keep pointing fingers at us. The latest allegation is part of their propaganda to stain our global reputation, but the world knows they are lying.
“We understand their game plan; all they are after is to blackmail IPOB before our international friends who understand our predicaments in the region. Nigeria should try us and allow us our independence then let’s know which country will harbour terrorists.
“IPOB is, and will remain a non-violent movement. No amount of blackmail by the Nigerian government and its compromised security agencies can make us change our resolve to restore Biafra through non-violence.”
