The Indigenous People of Biafra has rejected claims that its members and those of the Eastern Security Network are the unknown gunmen operating in the South-East region.

The group stressed that the IPOB volunteers and ESN operatives were not unknown gunmen, contrary to allegations by the Nigerian Army, the police and the Department of State Services.

It cautioned security agencies and the general public to stop linking its members to the hoodlums behind kidnapping and snatching of cars in the South-East region.

In a statement on Wednesday, the group’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, accused the Federal Government, security agencies and greedy politicians of calling its members unknown gunmen in the South-East, particularly in Imo State, so as to demonise IPOB and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

It explained that the ESN operatives were staying in the bushes and forests to safeguard mothers, wives and sisters, who had been the victims of rape and killings by terrorists masquerading as herdsmen.

The statement exonerated the group from the recent attacks on the Isu Local Government Area Divisional Police Headquarters by gunmen, saying those carrying out attacks were created to demonise IPOB and its leader.

The statement read in part, “Ironically, the monster they created to destroy the ESN has turned around to hunt them. They should leave IPOB and the ESN out of their problems. The demons the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army and the DSS nurtured will continue to hunt them until they openly confess their atrocities against Biafra.

They must come out openly and speak up on the mystery behind the ‘unknown gunmen’ and cannibalism in the region. IPOB is the only obstacle they have, yet they keep pointing an accusing finger at us for the same evil they’re committing.

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“The government of Imo State, under Governor Hope Uzodimma, created the unknown gunmen and is now using the Ebubeagu security outfit to accomplish his aims. Ebubeagu is now the major cause of death in Imo State. The operatives were recruited and given orientation to harm our people and blame it on the IPOB and the ESN. But they will not succeed in this evil mission.

“The Nigeria police should go and look for those who attacked them at the Isu LGA. The worst thing is that they know where those attacking them are staying, but they keep mentioning IPOB and the ESN members. We are well ahead of them, and the police cannot humiliate us with their fallacious and laughable allegations and media trial. We cannot accept that garbage