The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denied any involvement in the killing of five soldiers in Aba on Thursday during the sit-at-home order observed in the region. Instead, the group has accused politicians of using criminals to carry out the attack.
In a statement signed by IPOB's spokesperson, Emma Powerful, the group condemned the killing of the soldiers and said it was preoccupied with the observance of the sit-at-home order, which was meant to honor their fallen heroes and heroines during the Biafra civil war.
"We condemn the attack on military on duty in Aba, we are not involved because sit-at-home was because of our fallen heroes and heroines and time of mourning and not to attack anybody in respect of that; therefore, anybody mentioning IPOB as responsible for the attack in Aba is under the control of something," Powerful said.
According to Powerful, the attack was carried out by criminals who were used by politicians to create problems in the "peaceful Enyimba City" of Aba. He warned the Abia State governor to be careful as these politicians were "coming to create a crisis in Aba."
The incident occurred at the Obikabia Junction Checkpoint in Obingwa Local Government Area, adjoining the Aba metropolis, on Thursday, the same day IPOB had declared a sit-at-home order to remember those killed during the Biafra civil war.
IPOB has consistently maintained that its activities are peaceful and have no intention of attacking anyone, including security personnel. The group has accused politicians of using criminal elements to discredit their struggle for the actualization of an independent state of Biafra.