Imo killings: IPOB denies involvement

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denied any involvement in the recent massacre in Mbano, Imo State. It alleged the accusation was to derail calls for the release of its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Gunmen reportedly attacked a community in Mbano a few days ago, killing several civilians and sparking outrage across the […]

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denied any involvement in the recent massacre in Mbano, Imo State.

It alleged the accusation was to derail calls for the release of its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Gunmen reportedly attacked a community in Mbano a few days ago, killing several civilians and sparking outrage across the region.

In the immediate aftermath, security agencies reportedly linked the attack to IPOB and its security wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN)—an accusation the group described as “baseless and politically motivated.”

In a statement, IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, condemned the killings.

“This is a tired, manufactured narrative that now serves as a wicked cover for state-sanctioned mass murder and political manipulation,” Powerful said. “IPOB had no hand in the massacre in Mbano or anywhere else.”

The group suggested the attack was part of a broader pattern of violence aimed at sabotaging growing public and legal support for the release of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in detention since 2021 despite several court rulings questioning the legality of his extradition and continued incarceration.

“Each time the legal arguments for the release of our leader gain momentum in court and public discourse—as has been the case in recent weeks—the Nigerian state resorts to violence and bloodshed in the Southeast,” Powerful stated.

He further alleged that the real perpetrators of the attack were “fifth columnists” embedded within the security architecture, accusing them of killing civilians to portray IPOB as a terrorist organization.

“The real criminals are those who profit from bloodshed, who fear justice, and who believe that power can only be maintained through lies, bullets, and blackmail. We challenge the Nigerian police to present evidence in a court of law—not press statements—if indeed IPOB or ESN is culpable,” Powerful said.

He added that the group would remain committed to its nonviolent agitation and legal efforts to secure Nnamdi Kanu’s release.

“The Directorate of Media and Publicity will not be silenced. Every act of repression only strengthens our resolve. Every innocent life lost cries out for justice. And that justice will surely come,” the IPOB spokesperson said.