- Denies involvement, order ESN to confront the “hoodlums and cultists” recruited and sponsored by alleged “evil politicians”
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Tuesday challenged South East Governors and members of the public to “deal decisively with criminals enforcing Monday sit-at-home order,” saying they are “hoodlums and cultists recruited and sponsored by some evil politicians in the state who derive joy in spilling blood of their fellow citizens.”
IPOB therefore ordered its militant wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) to “confront criminals creating these problems” in the name of the group, insisting that it “was not formed to terrorise people.”
The group said it is appalled by the “senseless shooting in Enugu State on Monday” by those allegedly enforcing the sit-at-home order, explaining that “IPOB has not authorized anybody to enforce Monday sit-at-home which has been suspended since September 19, 2021. Anybody unleashing sorrow on innocent citizens under the guise of enforcing sit-at-home order is a criminal and does not deserve pity.
“Despite the suspension of Monday Sit-At-Home since 19th of September 2021, some unscrupulous elements and criminals conniving with security agencies and our enemies have continued to inflict pain on our people. Their aim is to blackmail IPOB but they will continue to fail.
“Now, we want to inform our people to stand firm in the fight for their liberty. IPOB did not ask anybody to enforce Sit-At-Home of any kind. Henceforth, ESN operatives will come from the bushes and forests and go after these criminals unleashing mayhem on innocent people and visitors to Biafra land in the name of enforcing non-existent Monday sit-at-home order.
“We also ask Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, to also deal decisively with any hoodlum using Monday sit-at-home to toture innocent citizens/residents of the State. No genuine member of IPOB or ESN operative is involved in any enforcement of Monday sit-at-home order. Anybody doing so is working against Biafra restoration.
“We equally call on our people and members of the public to skin alive, any idiot caught inflicting sorrow on the people in the name of enforcing non-existent Monday sit-at-home order. Such evil soul and messenger of death doesn’t deserve to live. Those shooting sporadically in the market are criminals and bandits using the name of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu and ESN to humiliate our people and demonise the movement. Their aim is to give the federal government excuse to hold our leader perpetually in detention.
“ESN operatives must be ready to confront criminals creating these problems in the name of ESN and IPOB in the region. We have suspended Monday Sit-At-Home long time ago, and we have not rescinded that decision. Biafrans must be strong to withstand our enemies and their collaborators every Monday. “IPOB was not formed to terrorise people. We remain peaceful and focused on the pursuit of Biafra freedom and independence.
“Gov. Ugwuanyi and other Govs in the region must provide security for our people on Mondays because ESN is now ready to confront these criminals.
“Nobody should link IPOB or ESN with these bunch of criminal acts in our region and those enforcing non-existent Monday sit-at-home order. How can we stop Sit-At-Home and turn around to compel people to observe it? IPOB are not hypocrites and we must come out victorious. The media should stop linking IPOB and ESN with the criminals behind this sad development. They are not our members and we can never accommodate these kind of criminals in our movement and family of IPOB.”