By Samuel Ugbor, Abakaliki

The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, on Thursday, denied that its members participated in the attack on the Commander of Ohaukwu Police command, CSP Chinedu Onuoha, saying the Police in the state, were framing it up.

Suspected hoodlums were last week, alledged to have attacked Commander Onuoha and snatched two rifles from constables within his area of jurisdiction.

But IPOB”s Director of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, said the allegation by the police fingering its members in the distardly act of arms snatching, was another move to blackmail and disrepute it.

In a statement on Thursday, the group said, “We, the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, ably led by our great leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to state clearly that we known nothing about the alleged snatching of guns in Ebonyi State. The allegation by the Ebonyi State Police Commissioner that our members snatched two AK-47 from Area Commander is unfounded and a total falsehood. This is another fabrication by the police in their usual characteristics of propaganda and blackmail to disrepute IPOB.  We dissociate from the alleged attack as we knew nothing about it.

“We have always made it known that our  philosophy for Biafra actualization is nonviolent, but any day we want to change that approach we shall make it known. If we want to go into arms struggle we know where to go and source for arms. We won’t defend Biafra with stolen guns from the Nigeria Police. So, linking IPOB with stolen guns in Ebonyi cannot fly. It’s a blatant lie.

“IPOB members are not armed robbers and do not indulge in arms struggle right from inception.   On Friday, 16th  of October 2020, the  Nigeria Police and Ngbo Central Security Vigilante arrested Mazi Alieze Uchenna, Mazi Agbo Chinonso, Mazi Onwe Okechukwu and Onwe Onyekachi and forced them to admit to allegations of being robbers. They were subsequently charged for robbery.

“The Nigerian army and police have continued to arrest innocent members of IPOB without provocation while treating Boko Haram terrorists, Bandits, Fulani terrorists herdsmen with kid gloves. Today many Nigeria youths are on the streets and roads of Nigeria and Biafra but security operatives are busy chasing innocent citizens in Biafra land. Biafra agitators have continued to languish in various police detention facilities yet terrorists are being granted state pardon with rehabilitation packages. In all the streets and roads of Nigeria protesting youths are demanding their rights across Nigeria while Nigeria government and her security operatives are busy recruiting thugs to attack them instead of listening to their demands. We ,therefore, call on Ebonyi State Governor Eng.Dave Umahi and his counterparts in the South East and South South to release Biafra agitators arrested in their respective states without hesitation.”