. . . Says over 300 IPOB members languishing in detention in Ebonyi

By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has condemned what it described as the incessant killing, unprovoked attacks and abduction of persons suspected to be members of IPOB and Eastern Security Network (ESN) operatives in Ebonyi State by Nigerian security agents.

The group accused the State Governor, Dave Umahi, and Ebubeagu security outfit of conniving to perpetrate the acts.

IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, in a statement to journalists in Awka, Anambra State, on Tuesday, said the killings were geared towards unleashing terror on innocent citizens of Ebonyi State, and possibly stop them from supporting the agitation for Biafra’s restoration.

The statement partly reads: “These agents of oppression supported by Gov. Dave Umahi have continued to kill IPOB members and innocent Biafrans, tagging them ESN operatives.

“Over 300 members of IPOB are currently languishing in jail and other detention facilities across Ebonyi State, and many have died in the prison. Two days ago three people died in prison because of torture from the security agents.

“It is only shameful that while the federal government with the support of Northern governors is busy freeing and rehabilitating captured Fulani terrorists and bandits, some treacherous South East Governors are busy killing their own people who volunteered themselves to protect their homes from invaders who continuously slaughtering our mothers, wives and sisters in the bushes and forests in our territory.”

IPOB reeled out the names of the dead inside the Ebonyi prison to include Mazi Obinna Iroegbul, Onye Army, Sydney, among others who were suffering from torture meted out to them by the Nigeria security agencies.

The statement added: “These oppressors must be held accountable because they committed no atrocities by defending their ancestral lands from the Futa Jaleon invaders.

“We are calling on Gov. Dave Umahi’s associates and friends to caution him because we won’t tolerate this barbarity any further.

“Ebonyi people should call Dave Umahi to order before he turns Ebonyi into another slaughter ground like Imo State.”

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