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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Thursday, vehemently denied any links with the Finland-based Simon Ekpa group, dismissing Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah’s claims as “cheap propaganda”.
The governor alleged that the police neutralized 27 kidnap gangs linked to the Ekpa group, which IPOB said was not affiliated with them.
In a statement, IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful described the claims as “false” and “absurd”, stressing that the Ekpa autopilot group and the 27 kidnap gang were not members of IPOB. Powerful questioned why the police and the Enugu State government were linking these criminals to IPOB, which suggests a sinister intent.
IPOB distanced itself from the Ekpa group and condemned what it called the governor’s attempt to link them to criminal activities. The group reiterated its commitment to peacefully fighting for Biafra’s independence, and was not involved in kidnapping or other criminal acts.
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“The IPOB family worldwide wishes to refute the fake and misleading news spread by the media office of the Enugu State Governor, claiming that the Nigerian Police Force has neutralized a gang of 27 kidnappers of ESN members loyal to the Finland-based group in various locations in Enugu State.
“The claim is not only false but also cheap propaganda against IPOB and ESN. According to the report, the media office of the Enugu State governor claimed that the Nigerian Police Force had neutralized 27 bandits and kidnappers in two weeks in various locations in the state.
“The Nigerian police and the Enugu state government said some of the criminals neutralized were pro-Biafra agitators loyal to a double agent based in Finland.
“Then why did they turn around and link these criminals to IPOB royals? With the usual malice, the police claimed that the so-called criminals they had neutralized were ESN members loyal to IPOB on autopilot,” the statement read.
IPOB denies links to Finland-based Simon Ekpa, condemns Enugu Governor’s claims first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.
