The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) have maintained that they are after terrorists and not northerners as earlier alleged by an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi.
The group disclosed this in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Comrade Emma Powerful, made available to newsmen in Abakaliki.
According to Powerful, ESN is a child of necessity created for the defence of Biafra’s ancestral land against terrorists and killer herdsmen wreaking havoc across the communities.
Powerful then called on Gumi to desist from twisting the real facts as there is no iota of truth in the mischievous and fallacious claim.
He further called for the arrest and investigation of the cleric following his ties with bandits.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra IPOB, led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been drawn to the latest ranting and ridiculous claims by Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, that IPOB, and Eastern Security Network, ESN, were killing Northerners. There is no iota of truth in such mischievous and fallacious claims.
“In case the self-acclaimed Islamic cleric has forgotten, may we remind him that neither IPOB nor ESN is a terrorist organization or killers. Spilling of blood is never part of our mandate.
“ESN is only defending our hapless mothers and sisters who have been raped, maimed and attacked without any justification by herdsmen.
“Since December 2020 when ESN was set up by our leader, these vampires have been on the run because of the heat from our gallant operatives across Biafran forests. For Sheikh Gumi who never gave a hoot while killer herdsmen rampaged our communities to try to twist the fact now is not only mischief but also an act of terror itself.
“No Northerner in any part of Biafra land can prove that he/she has at any time been attacked by IPOB or ESN. We are only chasing terrorists and bandits behind killings and kidnapping for ransom in our land.
“Gumi should be ashamed that an Islamic cleric as he claims has suddenly become a mouthpiece for bandits and terrorists. Why does Gumi have a special interest in bandits and terrorists? Why is Gumi always advocating for terrorists and negotiating with them but never advanced the cause of victims of terror? What does Sheikh Gunmi have in common with bandits and terrorists?”
