IPOB Denies Any Intention To Force Igbo Personnel Out Of Nigerian Army – Spokesman

IPOB Denies Any Intention To Force Igbo Personnel Out Of Nigerian Army – Spokesman

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) declared on Wednesday that they do not intend to coerce Igbo individuals into resigning from the Nigerian Army or other security agencies. The separatist group also refuted claims made by the Nigerian Army that IPOB members had abducted and assaulted a soldier sent to the South-East to monitor their activities……CONTINUE READING

Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, had alleged in a press statement on Sunday that Simon Ekpa, a self-proclaimed leader of IPOB, circulated a video showing the torture of retired Corporal Toriola Adewale. The Army condemned the purported assault, attributing it to IPOB members.

In response, IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, dismissed the Army’s allegations as “propaganda” and a “self-staged crime.” He characterized the video of the abducted soldier as a “false flag operation” and asserted that it was not produced by IPOB. According to Powerful, IPOB’s Directorate of State has distanced itself from Simon Ekpa, but the Army continues to link IPOB with Ekpa in an effort to tarnish the group’s reputation.

Powerful emphasized that while IPOB has called for Biafrans in Nigerian security agencies to resign, it has never and will never coerce anyone into resigning. He stated, “IPOB can only appeal to the conscience of Biafrans but will never impose anything on anyone at gunpoint. Our vision for Biafra is one where rights are guaranteed and respected, guided by reasoning.”

He further criticized the Army’s claims, labeling them as another false flag operation meant to justify violence against the Igbo people. Powerful stressed that IPOB does not have an army and will not establish one until Biafra is restored, operating only the Eastern Security Network to address threats from Fulani terrorists.

Powerful also dismissed calls for international intervention against IPOB as baseless, asserting that these institutions are aware of IPOB’s peaceful stance and the Nigerian government’s repression of its members. He concluded that IPOB’s non-violent approach should not be mistaken for weakness, but rather as adherence to international laws governing self-determination.