The Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, has denied claims by the Defence Headquarters that it is a militant terrorist organization. The Defence Headquarters released a statement yesterday declaring the group as a militant terrorist organization. Read here.

However, in a statement released yesterday by the Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Emma Powerful, the secessionist group denied the claims and alleged that security operatives, especially the “Nigerian Army and police personnel drafted to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s house has planted bombs in and around Nnamdi Kanu’s house in Isiama Afaraukwu Ibeku Umuahia Abia State” in a bid to paint the image of IPOB in bad light. The statement in part reads

"The Nigerian Army planted bombs in and around the compound waiting for the bombs to blow up and then accuse Nnamdi Kanu and the peaceful and innocent members of IPOB of keeping bombs in his home town and his compound for attacks. We urge men and women of good conscience around the globe to prevail on Nigerian Government and her security operatives, especially the Nigeria Army and police to desist from rubbishing the rule of engagements and code of conducts of the Nigerian Army and also killing innocent civilians in the name of fighting crime and kidnappers. IPOB under Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has not since the inception of this fight for Biafra independence involved in any act of violence or crime. The APC led by President Muhammad Buhari with the supervision of Brig. General Tukur Bruatai must be held accountable for the bombs and the lives lost since the launching of this barbaric attacks code named operation Python Dance 11 in every state in Biafranland.”

In a related development, younger brother of Nnamdi Kanu, Prince Kanu, spoke to Channels TV last night and said that the declaration by the military is laughable. 

“It is very, very laughable that that is coming from a military intelligence officer. One, IPOB is a non-violent movement. We do not carry arms. We’ve never asked anyone to kill for us, neither have we killed anyone. If you look at our records, our records are clean and straight. From inception, Nnamdi Kanu made it clear to the whole world that we are non-violent freedom fighters, and that is the way it has been.” he said