The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) attacked camps in Anambra and Imo on Tuesday, but the Indigenous People of Biafra, or IPOB, a secessionist organisation in the nation, has disputed ownership of the targets.
In a news release on Wednesday, the Air Force’s spokesman, Edward Gabkwet, claimed that the force had carried out airstrikes on IPOB and its armed branch, Eastern Security Network (ESN) camps.
He said that the attacks were carried out in response to intelligence inputs that the militants intended to terrorise local residents.
However, IPOB maintained that NAF was lying in a press release by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, and insisted that the organisation does not possess camps in the places mentioned.
“We refute the assertions made by the Nigerian Air Force that the ESN camps operated by IPOB at Osumoghu in Nnewi South LGA of Anambra State and Osuihiteukwa in Orsu LGA of Imo State were bombed.
We boldly assert that none of the bombed areas contain any ESN camps.
The group claimed the blasted camps belonged to terrorists who were supported by Finland-based Simon Ekpa, the leader of a splinter group.
The so-called bombing of IPOB’s ESN camps by the Nigerian Air Force should stop deceiving the public and extorting this peaceful IPOB.
“Just so everyone is aware, IPOB doesn’t run camps in those areas. Both in Biafra Land and the diaspora, IPOB has offices. If we were terrorists or criminals, civilised nations would not permit us to congregate on their territories.
“The Eastern Security Network (ESN), which IPOB has, is primarily responsible for securing our bushes and safeguarding our people. The general public should avoid and discard the ranting of Simon Ekpa, a criminal and agent provocateur for the Nigerian DSS based in Finland, as well as his gang members who frequently pose as ESN to disparage IPOB and Mazi Nnamdi KANU.
The Nigerian Air Force must use the names of the criminal camps it targeted rather than using the terms ESN or IPOB.
The group also denounced the NAF’s bombing of the targets, claiming that although it opposes the presence of terrorists in the north, it is using jets to attack those in the east.
“As much as we hate the violent acts committed by criminals posing as IPOB and ESN in the name of the Biafra cause, we denounce the Nigerian Air Force’s bombing of any location in Biafra Land.
“If the Nigerian Air Force has operational fighter jets to strike criminal hideouts in the Southeast Asian rainforest, why haven’t they struck terrorists and bandits operating openly in the North African desert?” The group asked inquiries.
