By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu distanced itself from the gruesome murder of a legal practitioner, Darlington Chume Odume, popularly known as Omekagu, who was recently killed in Amaifeke Orlu, Imo State, by gunmen.

IPOB said the allegation is being peddled by those bent on demonizing IPOB, insisting that it has no hand in the cruel and unconscionable killing.

The group in a statement on Saturday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said that those perpetrating the murderous activities in Imo State and other parts of Biafra land are doing so just to implicate IPOB and the Eastern Security Network ESN.

IPOB said: “We have severally explained that we have no hands in these gruesome killings in Biafra land but some do not want to believe us. IPOB is a non-violent and peaceful movement with presence in over 100 countries. We are only after the peaceful restoration of Biafra. Killings are not part of our mandate.

“Those committing these heinous crimes only do so to possibly implicate us and destroy our global image but we are innocent.

“The Nigeria Bar association, NBA should not be deceived by Nigeria police and DSS with their false media propaganda. It makes no sense for IPOB to go after lawyers or Journalists for instance, assuming we are to be violent. These two professionals are rather the best of our friends as they are the ones at our rescue in our quest for Justice.

“We will never contemplate hurting anyone belonging to either of these noble professions or any profession for that matter. Lawyers have been helping this struggle and facilitating the release of our people in different parts of Nigeria.

“They put their lives at risk for our sake, and there is no way we can sensibly reciprocate this rare gesture by going after them. It's an irony and most illogical. Those linking us with this barbarity should please look for a more intelligent script. IPOB cannot come down too low by killing our lawyers, journalists and Human Rights groups and persons.”

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