The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a Biafran liberation agitation group, has refuted the Nigerian Police’s claim of their involvement in the murder of an Imo State monarch.

The Nigerian Police claimed that some suspected IPOB members were involved in the murder of the traditional ruler of Otulu Community, Amaumara Mbaise, in Ezinihite Local Government Area of Imo State, Eze Joe Ochulor.

Eze Joe Ochulor, was killed on November 25, 2023. He was kidnapped by gunmen and later found dead along Mbutu Community road in the Aboh-Mbaise Local Government Area

The Nigerian Police accused IPOB of being responsible for the murder of the monarch, alleging that the group’s members were involved in the killing.

IPOB, however, in a statement on Friday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful has denied any involvement in the incident and accused the police of fabricating stories to tarnish the group’s image.

He said: “The police also alleged that one Chidiebere, an IT professional, was the mastermind behind the murder, as he had been hunted by both IPOB members and government agencies due to his IT expertise and information about the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) IRev in the last presidential election. And we ask, how does Chidiebere’s business concern IPOB?”

IPOB spokesman refuted the police’s allegations, stating that they have nothing to do with the said Chidiebere and were not responsible for securing traditional rulers or engaging in political struggles, as the police claimed.

He emphasized that they were a Biafran liberation agitation group, not a political organization, and questioned the police’s motives in linking them to the incident. (The Nation)