IPOB DEBUNKS CLAIM BY NIGERIAN ARMY OF KILLING 13 OF ITS MEMBERS

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IPOB DEBUNKS CLAIMS BY NIGERIAN ARMY OF KILLING 13 OF ITS MEMBERS

The spokesman of the Joint Task Force ‘Operation UDO KA’ in the South-East, Lt. Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, had, in a statement on Monday in Enugu, said troops killed 13 suspected members of IPOB in the region during a clearance operation.

But in a statement on Thursday morning by the IPOB’S Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group said the Army lied about killing its members.

Powerful stated that the Army lied and deliberately peddled falsehood in its attempt to demonise the group and scare Ndigbos from traveling home for the Yuletide festivities.

“The Directorate of State (DOS) of the noble family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) wish to debunk the falsehood and concocted propaganda peddled by the Nigeria Military in Enugu State of killing 13 IPOB members,” Powerful said in the statement.

“The Nigerian Army is fear-mongering. They planned to use this fake news of killing 13 IPOB members to scare away Ndigbo from returning and enjoying their Christmas in their respective homes in the South East Region. These scare tactics by the Nigeria government and its compromised military will not work

“IPOB understands Nigerian Government and its Nigerian military uses the name of the peaceful noble family of the IPOB movement and ESN to deceive the general public international community into believing that they are working on insecurity in our territory.

“The Nigerian Army in the South East are not curtailing insecurity. Instead, they are fueling the insecurity to justify the genocide they committed and have continued to commit against Ndigbo.

“We are happy that a reputable Civil Society Organization like INTERSOCIETY has compiled and published the murderous activities of the Nigerian Army in the South East.

“Nigerian Army has made uncountable efforts to destabilize, demonise, and criminalize IPOB and ESN before Ndigbo and the international community.

“The more they try, the more they fail because IPOB are not involved in the insurgency and insecurity, including criminal activities going on in the South East Region.

“The Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police, and their murderous DSS are among the state actors destabilizing the South East in the name of fighting insecurity. These notorious Security Forces are the insecurity that the people experience themselves.

“What is the beef of the Nigerian government and her murderous military against unarmed and non-violent movement like IPOB?

“The ethnic bigot government of Nigeria proscribed IPOB and labeled IPOB a terrorist organization in Nigeria but failed convinced international community to labeled IPOB a teror organisation, we all knew IPOB as the leader of a non-violent self-determination struggle to restore Biafra.

“The same self-determination is being pursued by the Oduduwa agitators and Hausa agitators respectively but, who are not considered as terrorists by the same Federal (Fulani) government of Nigeria.

“Since the 1945, Biafrans have always been considered enemies in Nigeria. Why then is the Nigerian State afraid of the Igbos exiting the unholy and unworkable union called Nigeria? Nigeria can’t keep humiliating, intimidating, killing, and illegally abducting Ndigbo out of their ethnic hatred for Biafra citizenry and, at the same time, refuse to let them leave from that bloody nation. Is Nigeria a witch?

“The Nigerian government and her military colluded with Fulani terrorists to overrun Biafra Land. That is why we allege that the Nigerian Army target is to destroy IPOB and ESN, who are the only formidable obstacle to their Fulanization agenda.

“IPOB formed ESN to curtail the terrorists activities of the Fulanis. On the other hand, the Nigerian government deployed the Nigerian Army under the Operation UDO-KA to attack Ndigbo and claimed it is ESN members who were up against Fulani terrorists in our bushes and farmlands. That is why we insist that the Nigerian Army is working together with the Fulani terrorists.

“Recently, on international front, Niger Republic accused the Nigerian government and her Military of working together with the so-called new terrorist group “Lukuwana terrorists” to destabilize their country by sabotaging their oil pipeline in the Benin Republic.

“The Nigerian government and her murderous military have extended their destabilization activities to the neighboring countries. This ought to be a serious concern to the international community.

“The Nigerian military spokesman must stop linking IPOB to their sponsored criminal activities going on in the South East Region with the unfounded media blackmail.

“The claims by the military spokesperson of killing 13 IPOB members are not only false but illusory. The military claimed to have killed 13 IPOB members but failed to substantiate their claims.

“The news headline is not only deceitful but unrelated to the main article. IPOB will equally use this opportunity to call on the Nigerian media to become circumspect and practice. investigative journalism in their reportage.

“The Nigerian Army’s claim of killing 13 IPOB members should not be reported without proper investigation. The media reporting the claims of the killing of 13 unarmed IPOB civilians or ESN Operatives by the Nigeria soldiers (assuming that it is true) should not have reported it unceremoniously because the life of every IPOB person is precious.

“Unarmed IPOB members and ESN operatives are not terrorists or criminals who should be killed even though the Nigerian government decided to demonize us for defending our people.

“Secondly, IPOB family members and ESN Operatives are all intact. There is no loss of IPOB family members or ESN operatives as claimed by the Nigerian Army. As long as IPOB and the international community are concerned, IPOB members are non-violent self- determination movement.

“On the other hand, ESN are armed disciplined Vigilantees that are mandated to dislodge Fulani terrorist and kidnappers masquerading as herdsmen in the South East Forests and bushes. IPOB will not retreat nor surrender on defending our people or in restoring our fatherland – Biafra Nation.”

Dons Eze

DONS EZE, PhD, Political Philosopher and Journalist of over four decades standing, worked in several newspaper houses across the country, and rose to the positions of Editor and General Manager. A UNESCO Fellow in Journalism, Dr. Dons Eze, a prolific writer and author of many books, attended several courses on Journalism and Communication in both Nigeria and overseas, including a Postgraduate Course on Journalism at Warsaw, Poland; Strategic Communication and Practical Communication Approach at RIPA International, London, the United Kingdom, among others.

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WHY NNAMDI KANU’S RELEASE MAY NOT END INSECURITY IN SOUTH EAST – SOLUDO

WHY NNAMDI KANU’S RELEASE MAY NOT END INSECURITY IN SOUTH EAST – SOLUDO The Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, on Tuesday, said he doubted if the release of the detained leader of the separatist Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, would end the pervasive insecurity in the South-East, News360 Nigeria reports. Soludo argued that criminals had hijacked the Biafran struggle and were now exploiting the Biafran struggle and Kanu’s name to perpetrate organised crime and fuel insecurity in the South-East region. Soludo noted that under the guise of agitation, these individuals had turned to “lucrative criminality,” engaging in armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, and idolatry. He insisted that their activities have nothing to do with the genuine liberation struggle, stating that such crimes are purely driven by greed and lawlessness. Speaking during a press briefing at the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia on Tuesday, Soludo revealed that over 99 per cent of criminals arrested in Anambra in the past two years were Igbo, with more than 70 per cent being non-indigenes of the state. “The so-called agitators have transformed into organised criminal gangs,” Soludo said. “They hide in forests, kidnapping innocent citizens for ransom, and they justify their atrocities under the pretext of Biafra. Let us be clear—this has nothing to do with any liberation movement. Criminality has taken on a life of its own. These people have tasted blood, and now, money is their motivation.” The governor expressed doubt that the release of the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, would end the crisis, as the criminals appear to have severed ties with the original agitation. “Kanu and IPOB have repeatedly dissociated themselves from these criminals,” Soludo explained. “Even if Nnamdi Kanu is released today, I’m not sure they would listen to him because what they now pursue is wealth, not liberation. They have become enemies of the people they claim to protect. Who are they fighting for when they kidnap and kill their own people?” Soludo further decried the complicity of some communities in shielding these criminals, adding that insecurity in the region was sustained because some locals viewed security agencies as adversaries and the criminals as liberators. “Our people know these criminals. They are our brothers, cousins, and neighbors,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that in some communities, people contribute food to sustain these criminals hiding in the forests. How do you fight insecurity when people see criminals as heroes and the police as the enemy?” The governor announced the plan to launch ‘Operation Udo Ga Chi’ (Operation Peace Shall Reign), a state-wide security initiative scheduled to commence after January 25. The operation, Soludo said, would deploy 163 branded vehicles for stop-and-search activities and integrate advanced surveillance technology to track criminals and secure forests. “We are intensifying our security measures with both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches. We have trained forest guards to work with vigilantes and LG authorities to reclaim our forests. I call on these criminals to embrace our amnesty window, which remains open until the end of February,” Soludo added. Calling for collective action, Soludo urged religious leaders, traditional rulers, and residents to take ownership of their communities and cooperate with security agencies. “Insecurity is a monster that must be confronted collectively,” the governor emphasized. “If you see something, say something. Anambra will no longer be a haven for criminals masquerading as freedom fighters.” He expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and security agencies for their support, reiterating his administration’s resolve to rid the state of criminal elements and ensure lasting peace and security.

NO SUFFICIENT REASON FOR CONTINUED DETENTION OF NNAMDI KANU – OHANAEZE

NO SUFFICIENT REASON FOR CONTINUED DETENTION OF NNAMDI KANU – OHANAEZE The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Nze Ozichukwu Fidelis Chukwu, has stated that the Nigerian government has no sufficient reason to continue detaining Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. In a statement issued by Ohanaeze’s spokesman, Alex Ogbonnia, the organisation’s President General emphasised that “the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is a moral burden on the federal government,” adding that “there is no sufficient reason for the prolonged detention of Kanu by the security agency of the state.” Chukwu assured the National Executive Committee, NEC, that a blueprint will be developed to ensure Ohanaeze not only complements the goodwill of the state but is also positioned to discharge its diverse functions and overcome challenges as they arise. He further stated that although his days in office are numbered, he is determined to leave behind an impressive legacy.

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