The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has accused Simon Ekpa, a self-proclaimed follower of group leader Nnamdi Kanu, of being involved in criminal operations in the Southeast on Friday.
According to IPOB, Ekpa and his “Autopilot” gang are primarily blame for the region’s illegal activities.
IPOB made this assertion while assuring Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo that the group was not to blame for the turmoil in the region.
Ekpa and his group are threatening people in the region, according to IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful, for failing to comply with the Monday sit-at-home order.
A statement released by Powerful reads, “We the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to tell Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State that IPOB is not responsible for the criminality in Southeast, including Anambra State. The Governor should know that our enemies are committing atrocities using our name in their desperation to blackmail IPOB.
“It is a certain Simon Ekpa and his criminal gang called Autopilots that are carrying out threats against people’s lives because of non-existent Monday sit-at-home are criminals, kidnappers and robbers. These people disturbing the peace of our people are not IPOB members. They should be treated as criminals. IPOB doesn’t shed blood. We are a peaceful movement.”
IPOB noted that Monday sit-at-home had been cancelled, adding that anyone enforcing it is not their member.
He further stated, “We wish to reiterate once again that IPOB has cancelled Monday sit- at-home order and anybody or group enforcing the relaxed order is neither from IPOB nor from IPOB volunteer group. Any governor in the region who deemed it fit to stop non-existent Monday sit-at-home order in the region is free to do so.
“Anyone caught adding to the pain of our people in the name of enforcing Monday sit-at-home order will be treated like the enemy that he or she is.
“We, therefore, warn these agents of darkness using the name of IPOB to enforce a non-existent sit-at-home to desist because if we lay hold on them.
“Why should such unpatriotic elements be inflicting pain on our people and dragging our image to the mud?
“IPOB remains a non-violent movement and our peaceful approach for Biafra restoration has not changed.
