The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has accused Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma of exploiting the recent abduction of National Youth Service Corps members to falsely link the group to the crime, and has called for an independent international investigation into the incident.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB condemned the abductions along the Onitsha-Owerri axis, noting that the corps members have since been rescued. The group firmly denied any involvement and described attempts to associate it with the kidnappings as a “calculated falsehood meant to demonise our movement.”
IPOB alleged that the incidents were being used for political ends. It claimed Governor Uzodimma was seeking to bolster his standing with President Bola Tinubu amid reported political tensions involving Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, while also positioning himself as a key security figure in the South-East and eyeing the Senate presidency. The group further suggested that some Igbo politicians feared that the release of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu could reduce their influence.
The organisation pointed to what it called suspicious security lapses in parts of Imo State, alleging that military personnel had abandoned key checkpoints, creating openings that were then filled by “politically sponsored militias and armed groups” tasked with staging attacks, abductions and ransom collections designed to be blamed on IPOB.
IPOB also accused unnamed criminal elements and alleged state-sponsored agents of taking advantage of its announced intention to boycott elections. It said individuals who previously hijacked its Monday sit-at-home protests were now using the boycott stance as cover for criminal activity while attributing it to the group. IPOB stated it would detail the methods of any boycott closer to the relevant elections.
Reiterating its position, the group said it does not target civilians, students or NYSC members and described its campaign as “a peaceful, legally anchored quest for self-determination through a referendum.”
IPOB called for an immediate, open and independent international investigation into the Onitsha-Owerri abductions. It specifically demanded scrutiny of the circumstances of the incidents and the rescue operations, as well as tracing of any ransom payments to determine who received the money and whether any parties benefited financially.
The group urged the public and the international community to reject what it characterised as a political effort to associate the Biafra self-determination movement with insecurity in the South-East.
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