The Indigenous People of Biafra has faulted the Nigeria military authorities for declaring its Head of Directorate of State, Chika Edoziem, wanted, alongside other “bandits” and “terrorists.”

The pro-Biafran group said mentioning the name of Edoziem with other “bandits” and “terrorists” is an insult to the IPOB global family

This was contained in a statement issued by IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, on Sunday, insisting that they would not be intimidated by any blackmail from the Federal Government in their self-determination movement to restore the Biafra nation.

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The statement read, “Linking Simon Ekpa, Zuma, Temple, and others to our gentle leader, Mazi Chika Edoziem is a totally reckless attitude of the Nigeria military headquarters. Apart from Edoziem, IPOB has for long distanced every other individual mentioned in the wanted list.

“IPOB has distanced itself from the time, and we cannot be associated with criminals and vampires. IPOB worldwide assured our people that they cannot deceive them or harm them for any reason. The Nigerian Defence Headquarters showed that they are confused about ESN operatives and IPOB volunteers and movement.

“Mazi Chika Edoziem, the Head of the Directorate of the Indigenous People of Biafra, is a gentle and disciplined leader who has led IPOB peacefully for over a decade and has maintained the United Nations’ principles of seeking self-determination through a referendum.”

The group noted that Edoziem “has not been associated with any crime or violence, neither in Biafra land nor in diaspora. For the Nigerian military to declare him wanted among the violent terrorists and criminals is the same violent suppression approach that the Federal Government has adopted against Biafrans and the self-determination movement.

“The Nigerian security forces know that the violent criminals in the South-East are under the command of Simon Ekpa. Those criminals are not ESN operatives nor IPOB volunteers led by Mazi Chika Edoziem under our supreme leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”

IPOB stated that “those criminals were recruited by the Federal Government through Simon Ekpa. They used them to infiltrate and blackmail IPOB, but we busted and exposed them earlier. Irrespective of that, IPOB has severally disassociated its movement from them, but the Federal Government keeps linking their activities to IPOB/ESN in order to achieve their mission, which is to blackmail us.”

The group further challenged the Federal Government to explain what crime Edoziem committed to be declared wanted, adding that Edoziem was declared among terrorists, and bandits just to demonise him before the international community because his leadership has frustrated every effort to destroy the IPOB family.

“Mentioning the name of Mazi Chika Edoziem with the bandits and terrorists is an insult to the IPOB global family. The Federal Government and her military have all the intelligence and can’t claim ignorance of those responsible for insecurity in the South-East.

“The current wave of media blackmail and propaganda will never deter our resolve towards Biafra self-determination. The threat of arrest of our leaders will not stop us because we have incurred no offence in the pursuit of Biafra self-determination,” the statement added.

PUNCH