‘Criminals hiding under IPOB, ESN to commit crimes in South East,’ says group

[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]

Pro-separatist group in the South East, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) says its members are not involved in criminal activities being witnessed in the entire region.

The group warned those hiding under IPOB or using its name to commit crimes to desist or have themselves to blame.

The group said it cannot harm the people for whom security and safety the Eastern Security Network (ESN) was established.

In a statement signed by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Emma Powerful, IPOB recalled that it formed and inaugurated ESN to checkmate fulani terrorists activities in the region and vowed never to get involved in such evil and wicked acts as kidnapping for ransom.

According to IPOB, it is working towards exposing to the public those behind the ongoing criminalities in Anambra, Enugu and Imo States.

“Those behind this devilish activities are neither IPOB nor ESN members as always unfortunately “alleged” and we cannot allow them to succeed in our land”, it said.

It said the people perpetrating this act joined IPOB “with very dubious and criminal intents and had been since eased out of the group.

Those persons it said were masterminds of kidnappings in and around Nnewi North Local council, Nnewi South, Ekwulobia, Aguata and other places in Anambra State.

“However our well tested and trusted guiding principles exposed their ulterior intent and motive and unworthy of being part of the noble IPOB family and were therefore expelled to avoid contamination with disciplined members of IPOB”, it said.