From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denied any form of involvement in the attack of the Correctional Farm Service settlement at Umualomoke in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State on Monday where an officer in charge of the place was abducted and seven inmates freed and the subsequent invasion of the residence of a former senator from the area, Patrick Ndubeze who lost his orderly, a police inspector in the process .
Spokesperson of the group,Emma Powerful who issued a statement to that effect on Wednesday alleged that the security agencies who indicted them without investigation was only interested in blackmailing the organisation.
“IPOB/ESN was never responsible for the attack on the facility or any attack at Okigwe Imo State. Let Nigerians not be deceived. No armed group can successfully carry out prison attacks and free only seven.
“Whatever the case may be, IPOB, ESN, and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu have nothing to do with it.
“IPOB is a responsible and peaceful freedom fighting movement and only focuses on the restoration of Biafra. ESN Operatives are after marauding Fulani kidnappers and terrorists in our bushes and forests.
“IPOB/ESN Operatives have never attacked any correctional facility or anybody in Okigwe LGA. ESN Operatives do not engage Nigeria Security Forces nor attack any public infrastructures.
“Any time IPOB decides to invoke violence and arm struggle into our current project, the world will hear it from us first. By then, all these cheap blackmail will no longer matter because we shall take responsibility for our actions.,” Powerful stated.