The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have disowned a viral video of a boy child leading a parade of a group the voice leader identified as Eastern Security Network (ESN) operatives in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State, calling it “fabricated, laughable and misleading.”
IPOB said the trending video was to “to implicate IPOB and ESN. Those behind the fake video want to sell false propaganda that ESN is indulging in child abuse by using children to facilitate their job.
“We therefore wish to debunk the falsehood as what is it a poor propaganda job meant specifically to tarnish the image and reputation of the ESN. Come to think of it, Biafran youths are fallen over themselves to be part of this elite defence outfit, how then is it possible that ESN will leave able bodied youths ready and willing to be part of it and settle for a child? ESN does not, has never and will never use children for whatever reason. Right from inception, ESN has never violated this rule.
“We have no intention at any time to use children for any reason because we will never have any need for it. As a matter of fact, IPOB’s draft Constitution makes it a crime for parents to neglect to enroll their children/wards into school, uses them for child labour such as hawking or subjects them to any form of abuse. ESN can therefore never act contrary to this IPOB’s fundamental guiding principle.”
In the viral video, a small boy in (Eastern Security Network (ESN) attire was standing in front and leading the parade of adult and armed ESN fighters in a ground with thick bamboo trees providing cover. They also had on parade a band and three flags – Biafran, ESN and Israeli, which was displayed.
The commentator in the video said: “As you can see, all our men are good to go. As you can very well, we have one of our young soldiers on ground.” Calling the small boy “Ahoa, I will like to speak with you.” But the boy’s parade orders were not audible but the parade responded to his instructions in unison.
“Ahoa, I will want you to fall out and give us more parade, and also collect a rifle and show the world that you can do it. Fall out immediately.” The boy matched off to pick a gun.
“Oh, he want to handle a double magazine. Ahoa, you can do it very perfect” as he walked smartly with the gun.
“Show us how you can do it because I have record (sic) your success where you have followed the men on duty to make sure there is peace in Orsu Local Government (Imo State). You are one of the soldiers that fought and drive the military out of the land. So, show the land that you are good to go by giving us a one-gun salute.”
The boy took the guy, corked it and shot into the air confidently and steadily with shouts of approval rent the air and the voice over hailing “correct” to the gunshot.
The commentator continued: “You are good to go. This is to show the world that we have men that can do it. This is a double magazine AK-47. This is to show you what we have on ground. One of our soldiers is equivalent to 50 Nigerian military. They don’t have men. If they really have men, let them come out and show themselves. Let them stop burning people’s houses and terrorising innocent people. let them come inside the bush. Let them come inside the bush.
“Let them stop burning peoples houses as there are no houses in the bush. Those things you are showing the world are innocent people you are killing. If you can see where we are, we are inside the forest. There is nothing like building here. You can look around, everywhere is forest. We have been in the forest since the existence of the Eastern Security Network. Our duty is to drive the terrorists out of our motherland. This is Biafan land.”
But IPOB said in the statement signed by its Spokesperson, Emma Powerful, that “we are not surprised that those desperados who are bent on blackmailing IPOB and ESN at all cost have degenerated into all manner of ridiculous things thinking that they can discredit IPOB leadership in their plan to destroy ESN.
“We don’t conscript children into ESN because we know that it’s against international law, and we can’t go against the international law. The Nigeria Government and its DSS are desperate to implicate IPOB and ESN that was why they kitted a child to claim he is part of ESN operatives.
“We are drawing the attention of the United Nations, America and western world to understand that Nigeria Government has made it their number priority to attempt to destroy IPOB and ESN because we are a torn in their flesh. The International community should disregard this Nigerian government propaganda and hold those behind the wicked blackmail responsible.
“Politicians working at the behest of Nigerian security apparatus are behind the fake recruitment of a child and kitting him like ESN operatives just to blackmail IPOB and ESN. Nigeria government and her security agencies are committing genocide in Biafra land since the inauguration of ESN and they are desperate in their avowed desire to blackmail IPOB.”