Simon Ekpa, the leader of the Autopilot wing of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who is violently enforcing the sit-at-home in South East Nigeria is defying Nnamdi Kanu orders to immediately halt the frequent lockdowns which is crippling the region.
Kanu had written a letter to the Finland-based Ekpa ordering him to stop calling for sit-at-home in the South Ekpa.
But Ekpa has called on South Easterners to ignore the letter which he described as fake and a misrepresentation of detained IPOB leader.
Ekpa, in a post on his verified twitter handle @simon_ekpa said: “Our attention has been drawn to the fake letter from the pit of hell being paraded by Nigeria media claiming that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wrote a letter. It is not only a joke but an insult taking too far that the leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra is being misrepresented in this way.
“As the Prime Minister of Biafra under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, I call on all Biafrans to disregard the fake letter coming from DSS. We can’t take any order from the Islamic DSS and that is final. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu must be released and he must address Biafrans from Finland. That is the condition of the Prime Minister of Biafra and the Biafra Republic Government In Exile.”
Meanwhile, Ekpa’s activities are destroying the group as IPOB camps are disarray as security agencies intensify raids on their hideouts/enclaves.
Last weekend, troops of the Nigerian Army and the State Security Services (SSS) destroyed an enclave of IPOB/Eastern Security Network (ESN) in Asaba, Delta.
Director, Army Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement said the troops overpowered the IPOB fighters in the exchange of fire that followed the encounter, compelling them to abandon their hideout in disarray.
His words: “The troops captured one of the fleeing fighters and recovered five AK 47 rifles, three pump action semi-automatic rifles, one G3 rifle and one single barrel gun.
“Other items recovered include live cartridges, electric saw, machetes, an axe and IPOB flag.The troops have destroyed the enclave and are exploiting the forest in pursuit of the fleeing fighters.”
Less than 48 hours after the Asaba raid on IPOB’s enclave, troops of the Nigerian Army again destroyed some camps of IPOB and its militant wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN) in various parts of Anambra State.
The Army Spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Monday, in Abuja, said the troops killed one IPOB fighter and captured another during separate operations in the state.
Nwachukwu said the operations were carried out by troops of 302 Regiment operating under 82 Division of the Nigerian Army in conjunction with Anambra Vigilante Group.
The Army Spokesperson said the combined team destroyed some of the IPOB and ESN camps in Oroma and Umuewelum Anam, two communities in Anambra West Local Government Area of the state.
“The troops raided the identified camps on Sunday 23 July 2023, in an effort to curb the illicit activities of the fighters in the communities,” Mr Nwachukwu said, adding that eight brigands were arrested during the operations.
Dazed by the recent onslaught of the Nigerian Army against its members, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Friday raised the alarm that Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, is allegedly planning with security agencies to arrest anybody seen to be a member of the separatist group in the State.
In a statement on Friday, the group’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, disclosed that the plan to attack IPOB’s camps and arrest its members was hatched at a meeting hosted by the new Governor, Nwifuru at Commissioner’s quarters which was attended by Ebonyi politicians, traditional rulers, and security agencies.
He said “We are aware of the meeting agenda, and the agreement was to identify, attack, arrest, and possibly kill every IPOB member and anybody seen to be a sympathiser of the Biafra agitation in Ebonyi State.”
He said it beats their imagination why Governor Nwifuru would want to arrest members of IPOB when the group has no issues with him.
“Let the new Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr. Francis Nwifuru, bear in mind that IPOB has no issue with him. IPOB and ESN have no problem with you, but your plan to arrest and kill innocent IPOB members will not go well with your government. IPOB and ESN are peaceful and protective of our land. They should be supported and protected, not destroyed,” he said.
The group’s spokesman also warned traditional rulers and other politicians not to join forces with security agencies to hunt down IPOB members.
“We are also warning all the traditional rulers in Ebonyi State to be very careful not to allow themselves to be used by wicked politicians to their own detriment. It will be callous for the traditional Rulers to join security agents to point out their children for extrajudicial executions. Any Traditional Ruler who involves himself in the matter concerning IPOB will regret his actions.”
And to up the ante, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Enugu, Major General Hassan Taiwo Dada, on Friday told Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, that he has been directed by his superiors to end the menace in the region.
Giving insight into the chances of insecurity in the South East being dealt a deadly, General Dada said when he paid a working visit to Governor Uzodimma in the company of his team at the New Exco Chambers, Government House, Owerri, that the visit was to solicit the support of the government and the people to deliver on the mandate given to him.
Though he said he had assumed office two weeks ago, Dada told the Governor that it was customary in the military for officers posted to places for their assignment to familiarise themselves with the people, hence the courtesy call.
“The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Taoreed Lagbaja has given me a marching order to end insecurity in the South East and I hope to do just that. I am here therefore, to solicit the Governor’s support and everybody’s support to improve security in Imo State and the Southeast,” General Dada said.
The GOC who explained that he was aware of the state of insecurity in the region added: “We will do all it takes to ensure that peace returns to the South East.”
He used the opportunity to thank Governor Uzodimma for the support his government has been extending to the military, and recalled that the one week duration Army Day Celebration which took place in Imo State last year was still fresh in his mind.
In his remarks, Governor Uzodimma welcomed the GOC and his entourage and reminded him that he had in his kitty a résumé that will help to stamp out the cankerworm of insecurity in the Southeast.
The governor assured him the people of Imo State in particular and Southeast in general will support his mission in the course of his assignment.
The Governor reminded the GOC of the cordial inter -security agencies relationship that has existed in the state and urged him to ensure its sustainability in addressing the issues of criminality in the region such as banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, murder and other crimes.
Uzodimma used the opportunity to remind the military high command of the negative impact of sit-at -home in the Southeast, urging Dada and his colleagues to do all within their behest to ensure that those instigating it are brought to justice.
In the same vein, the Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of Police in charge of Zone 9, AIG Echeng Echeng, has charged Police personnel in Imo to neutralise IPOB/ESN elements enforcing the sit- at -home directive.
Echeng gave the charge during a familiarisation tour of the Imo command in Owerri on Thursday.
The AIG said the police would apply a stringent approach to fight insurgency, terrorism and other criminal activities within the zone.
“I will continuously ensure that we take the fight to those who do not want peace.
“There is nothing anybody can do without security.
“The economy of the state will not be affected by a group of miscreants who think they have control,” he stated.
“There is nothing anybody can do without security.
“The economy of the state will not be affected by a group of miscreants who think they have control,” he stated.
“Imo people deserve better than what they are getting now.
“They deserve peace, adequate security, economic growth and stability; and this we assure them,” Echeng noted.
Earlier, the state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Barde, said the command had continued to battle IPOB/ESN with a view to bringing their activities to an end.
“So far, we have been winning the battle.
“The strategies adopted by the command has helped drastically to cut down violent crimes in the state to the barest minimum
“I am delighted to inform you that the general security in the state has improved.
“The command is working assiduously and determined to improve on the records already achieved so that the people of the state can enjoy relative peace,” Barde stated.