By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has described as false claims by the Enugu State Governor’s Media Office to the effect that the Nigerian Police neutralised 27 kidnapping gang of Eastern Security Network (ESN) members loyal to Finland-based Simon Ekpa at different locations in Enugu State.

It said that the claim Is a cheap propaganda against IPOB and ESN.

This was contained in a statement by IPOB media and publicity secretary, Emma Powerful, on Thursday.

The statement read in part: “According to the report in the Sahara Reporters and other media houses, the Enugu State Governor’s Media office claimed that the Nigerian Police neutralised 27 criminals and kidnappers within two weeks at various locations in the State.

“The Nigerian Police and Enugu Government said that some of the neutralized criminals are pro-Biafra agitators loyal to the Finland based double agent. Then why did they turn around and associate these criminals with the noble IPOB family?

“For a long time, IPOB has maintained that there is nothing like Autopilot in IPOB. Moreso, the criminal gang leader in Finland has no relationship with ESN from the formation of ESN to date or with IPOB. The criminals and kidnappers have nothing in common with IPOB, ESN, and the Biafra struggle.

“The Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mba, and the Nigeria Police in Enugu State should stop being maliciously mischievous. They should stop the unnecessary blackmail against IPOB and call the criminals by their name. Already, the criminals captured said where they belong, and it is not with the IPOB's Eastern Security Network (ESN).”

The group warned the Enugu State Governor’s Media office to desist from linking ESN and IPOB to the self acclaimed leader, Ekpa, describing him as a double agent.

It Insisted that ESN Operatives are under the command of the Directorate of States (DOS) of IPOB, saying: “There are no ESN operatives loyal to the Nigerian government’s double agent in Finland.

“IPOB has no faction nor any affiliates. If not IPOB, it’s not IPOB. The group by themselves have stated that they do not belong to IPOB and ESN, why is the Nigerian government and her Security Forces forcing them on IPOB and keep associating them with IPOB and ESN.

“ESN Operatives don’t get involved in any criminal activities. They are disciplined vigilantes who are strictly focused on their mandate of dislodging the Fulani terrorists nicknamed herdsmen from destroying our farmers and farmlands.

“Biafrans can testify that ever since the ESN was formed, ESN Operatives have never been involved in crimes, nor have they threatened the peace and security of Biafrans that they vowed to protect. The Nigeria government and her murderous Security Agencies should stop blackmailing IPOB and ESN by associating our hallowed ESN with the autopilot gang and their leader.”

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