The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has dismissed allegations made by the Nigerian Army, which accused its members of kidnapping and assaulting a soldier allegedly sent to the South-East to spy on the pro-Biafran group.
In a recent statement, the Army, through its Director of Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, claimed that IPOB was responsible for the abduction and torture of retired Corporal Toriola Adewale, a former soldier. The accusation also involved Simon Ekpa, a Finland-based self-proclaimed leader of the group, who the Army claims circulated a video of the assault.
However, IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, has come out strongly against the claims, calling them “propaganda” and a “self-staged crime” orchestrated by the Nigerian Army’s leadership. He insisted that the video in question did not originate from IPOB, and that the group had no involvement in the alleged abduction or assault.
In response to these accusations, Powerful reiterated IPOB’s separation from Simon Ekpa, stating that the group had long distanced itself from him and his activities. According to Powerful, the Nigerian Army continues to link IPOB to Ekpa as part of a broader agenda to vilify the movement.
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“The Directorate of State of IPOB firmly denies the Nigerian Army’s false narrative that IPOB abducted a soldier sent to spy on the Biafra movement. The claim that this soldier was coerced into calling for the resignation of Biafran soldiers from the Nigerian Army is a fabricated story designed to tarnish IPOB’s image,” said Powerful.
He further clarified that while IPOB has indeed urged Biafrans serving in Nigeria’s security forces to resign, the group has never resorted to force or coercion to achieve this.
“The so-called video of an abducted soldier being forced to deliver a message to Biafran soldiers is yet another ‘false flag’ operation by the Nigerian Army, aimed at justifying their continued aggression against Ndigbo,” he added.
