The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called on South-East governors and political leaders to strengthen security measures in the region following the arraignment of five suspects over the abduction of prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State.
The group said the arraignment by the Department of State Services (DSS) vindicated its position that it was not responsible for the kidnapping.
In a statement issued by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, IPOB said the suspects were arraigned over the abduction of prospective corps members along the Owerri–Onitsha Expressway.
The suspects were identified as Usman Aliyu, Babangida Aliyu, Mohammed Ali, Aminu Haliru and Ibrahim Jiji.
IPOB alleged that the incident highlighted the security challenges facing communities, forests and highways in the South-East. It also called for further investigations to establish the suspects’ identities and origins.
The group questioned how the incident would have been handled if the suspects had not been apprehended, alleging that IPOB and its Eastern Security Network (ESN) might have been blamed.
“As has been the pattern, the blame would have instinctively and falsely fallen on Biafra agitators and the Eastern Security Network (ESN),” the statement said.
IPOB maintained that it had no involvement in the kidnapping and other criminal activities in the region.
The group also commended the DSS director in Imo State and the prosecuting team, saying they had handled the case professionally by arraigning the suspects rather than attributing the crime to IPOB or ESN.
However, the group called for the suspects’ full identities and origins to be established and made public.
IPOB further linked the incident to its longstanding security concerns, saying its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, established the ESN to protect communities and forests against criminal activities.
The group also criticised Kanu’s continued incarceration, arguing that security concerns he had raised remained unresolved.
IPOB urged South-East governors and other political leaders to prioritise measures to protect lives and property rather than focus on the group.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
