IPOB Condemns Massacre Of 18 Persons In Imo State Community

 

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has condemned the killing of 18 persons.

 

The killing was reportedly carried out by IPOB’s “security arm”, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) in some communities in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State.

 

The IPOB in a statement issued by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful on Tuesday, condemned in strongest terms the massacre where no fewer than 18 people were killed by a group of gunmen, describing it as barbaric.

 

“We commiserate with the families of those who lost their loved ones. IPOB remains committed in the fight against sponsored criminality and terrorism to destabilise Alaigbo and to blackmail IPOB and ESN,” Powerful stated

 

No fewer than 18 people had reportedly been killed in coordinated attacks by gunmen in several communities in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State, on Sunday, December 29, 2024.

 

The killings reportedly occurred in Umukabia, Eziawa, Ihittenasa, Umuhu, Amaoku, and Amaebe, all communities within Orsu Local Government Area.

 

The former Chairman of the Nigerian Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof Chidi Odinkalu, who hails from Orsu, had drawn attention to the incident via his X-handle where he posted about the incident.

 

IPOB said that there was a voiceover in a viral video accusing a group known as Umuoma as being responsible for an attack and killing of at least 30 people in a community IPOB identified as Orsuihiteukwa community in Orsu Local Government Area.

 

The IPOB spokesperson said, “The sponsored voiceover in the viral video of the senseless slaughter of innocent people in Orsuihiteukwa community in Imo State accused a group that call themselves “Umuoma” as responsible for the dastardly act and not ESN or IPOB volunteers. But the treacherous voiceover also questioned the relevance of ESN Operatives.

“This government paid faceless persons behind the voiceover in the viral video not only discredited ESN but indirectly accused ESN for not acting to save our people. ESN wants to keep all Biafran communities safe, even if the community is hostile to them.

“For public records, ESN remains ESN without any nickname. The so-called “Umuoma” are the same criminals as the Biafra Liberation Army under the control of the Biafra Government in Exile (BGIE) with Butuzor as their notorious commander.”

 

Powerful further stated, “The leaders of these notorious criminal gangs terrorising and killing innocent people in Imo State are the buffoon in the Finland Prison, Ngozi Orabueze in the USA, and others.

“These criminals have no relationship with IPOB or ESN. These murderous criminals have the backing of the Nigerian government and some South Eastern politicians.

“They were recruited, funded, and sponsored to impersonate and to blackmail IPOB and ESN as a splinter group. But they failed in their agenda because IPOB remains one indivisible family.

“Today many of the criminals are on the run while their remnants still hiding in some bushes in Imo State are on rampage killing the villagers because the people asked Butuzo and their criminal gang to vacate their land and stop staying in their bushes while claiming that they are liberating Biafra.

“The question everyone should be asking is, why are these criminals carrying out their violent and barbaric activities mostly in Imo State and a few neighboring communities in Anambra State?

“Is it not obvious that the government in Imo State is an accomplice to the insecurity and senseless killing of civilians in the state?”

 

He stressed, “The Nigeria government must leave IPOB and ESN out of their sponsored killings. IPOB members and ESN Operatives do not get involved in any violence against anyone except the marauding Fulani terrorists when they try to occupy our farmlands.

“IPOB remains a peaceful movement fighting for Biafra liberation using non-violence and civil disobedience means to press for Biafra Independence. We reject and condemn any violence against Ndigbo in general.

“Those blaming ESN over the soulless killing in Orsuihitukwa by criminals like Umuoma should stop and blame the Nigerian government and her governors from the East and her security forces and their proxy Igbo politicians who recruited the criminals and provided cover for them.

“The Nigerian military and police cannot deny their knowledge of the location of these criminals and their notorious camp called “Valley” in Orsu Local Government Area that has been in existence for over 3 years.

“IPOB insists that the soulless murderers that committed the genocidal act against our own people in Orsuihitukwa in Imo State were recruited by the Nigerian government in collaboration with some Igbo politicians.

“The aim is to use their violent and murderous activities against genuine Biafra agitation led by IPOB and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“Once again, IPOB condemns in the strongest term the recent barbaric massacre of innocent Biafrans in Imo State.

“Those criminals masquerading as Biafran agitators who are killing and kidnapping our people will meet their waterloo very soon. The blood of the innocent Biafrans and the spirit of the land will speak against them.

“IPOB is pleading with the Nigerian government and the Imo State government to stop using state actors and other non-state actors to continue shedding innocent blood of Ndigbo in their desperation to blackmail IPOB and ESN.”