Criminals, Not IPOB, Terrorising South East – Ebonyi Gov., Umahi

• The persecution of IPOB and ESN by the federal government will cover them

David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi state, says the recent attacks and criminal activities in the south east are being perpetrated by criminal elements and not Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the south-east.

Umahi, who made this known when he featured on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ on Thursday, said that the perpetrators of heinous and condemnable activities disguise as IPOB members.

Accusing fingers have been pointed at IPOB over the recent attacks on prisons and police stations in the south-east.

The group, however, refuted reports linking it or its security outfit, ESN, to the attacks, saying its agitations and objectives did not include attacking public properties and inflicting agony on the people they are fighting for.

Speaking on Thursday, Umahi said the fact of the situation was that some criminals who were not in anyway related to IPOB, use the group’s name to commit crime in the south-east.

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He added that the perpetrators of the evil deeds are leveraging on the persecution of IPOB by federal government to advance their nefarious activities.

“The truth of what is happening is that there are bandits everywhere; there are cultists everywhere. What happens now in south-east is that criminals who may not necessarily be members of IPOB and ESN, will go and commit crimes and they need a name. So it’s safer for them to say they are members of ESN, and IPOB so that the persecution of IPOB and ESN by the federal government will cover them,” he said.

“That is what is happening in south-east because IPOB and ESN have a number of times come out to say they are not into terrorism and violence, and the people burning police stations and killing are not their members. And so how do you reconcile the two?”

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Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo, had also echoed the sentiment of Umahi when he said those responsible for the attacks in the state are “criminal elements” operating under the cover of the proscribed IPOB.

Ekohotblog