…No We Were Not Involved- IPOB
Richard Ginika Izuora
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu, has fingered the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for the attacks on Owerri correctional service in Imo State on Monday, April 5.
But the Organization has denied any involvement in the attacks.
Frank Mba, Force Public Relations Officer, in a statement said the IGP has directed the Commissioner of Police in Imo to carry out holistic investigations into the incident; with a view to fishing-out the perpetrators and bringing them to justice.
According to Mba, the IGP has ordered the deployment of special squads to Imo to strengthen security in the state.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, has ordered the immediate deployment of additional units of Police Mobile Force (PMF) and other Police Tactical Squads to Imo State to strengthen security in the State and prevent further attacks on security formations or any other critical national infrastructure in the State.
“The IGP gave the directives following the attack on security operatives and formations; including the Imo State Police Command Headquarters and the Headquarters of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCS); in Owerri, in the early hours of today, Monday, 5th April, 2021,” he said.
“Preliminary investigations have revealed that the attackers, who came in their numbers with sophisticated weapons; such as General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), Sub-Machine Guns (SMGs), AK49 rifles, Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs), Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)’ are members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/Eastern Security Network (ESN).
“The attempt by the attackers to gain access to the Police armoury at the Headquarters was totally and appropriately resisted by Police operatives on duty who repelled the attackers and prevented them from breaking-in and looting the armoury. The armoury is thus intact! Similarly, the police suffered no human casualty; apart from a police Constable who sustained a minor bullet wound on his shoulder.
“The IGP, who condemned the attack on the security outfits, has further directed the Commissioner of Police; Imo State Command and a new Special Investigation Team; (specifically set up to deal with cases of incessant attacks on security formation/operatives in the region); to carry out holistic investigations into the incident with a view to fishing-out the perpetrators and bringing them to justice.
“The CP is to harness the security reinforcement squads and other operational assets at his disposal to take the battle to the door-steps of the attackers and prevent any further attack anywhere within the State and its environs,” the statement read.
The IGP said the Force is doing all within its powers to curb the activities of unscrupulous elements; hell-bent on threatening the unity, safety, security and socio-economic well-being of Nigerians.
Meanwhile, the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) has denied reports of its involvement in the earlier attack at the Nigerian Correctional Service in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
According to the IPOB, its members and the Eastern Security Network were never involved in assaulting Nigeria’s security operatives.
Emma Powerful, the media and publicity secretary of the group made the denial in reaction to the incident on Monday morning, April 5.
Powerful, said, “The attention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been drawn again to the fallacious and fabricated news that IPOB and ESN are involved in the attack of prison and police headquarters in Owerri Imo State.”
He urged the Nigerian government and media houses to stop labelling members; and its security operatives unknown gunmen as their primary assignment is mainly to resist the terror of the killer Fulani herders.
“IPOB and ESN are known groups not unknown gunmen. ESN is in the bush chasing Fulani terrorists; why linking IPOB and ESN to this attack? IPOB and ESN were not involved in the attack in Owerri, Imo State. And the recent attack on Onitsha Owerri road at Ukwuorji junction. It is not our mandate to attack security personnel or prison facilities.
“The Nigeria Government and her compromised media outfits should stop linking IPOB and ESN to the multiple attacks going on in Nigeria now. IPOB was formed on the principle of peace and we are still in it. Unknown gunmen are different people; we don’t know them and they are not IPOB or ESN security outfit.”
