The lawyer was murdered on Thursday by unknown gunmen in Umudara, Amaifeke in the Orlu Local Government Area of Imo state.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has distanced the group from the gruesome murder of a legal practitioner, Barrister Darlington Odume.
The lawyer was murdered on Thursday by unknown gunmen in Umudara, Amaifeke in the Orlu Local Government Area of Imo state.
It was learnt that the deceased was trailed from his chamber in the Orlu town by his assailants and was shot severally around Amaifeke, where he was buying some edible items.
IPOB in a statement signed and made available to SaharaReporters by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, said Odume was murdered by the state-sponsored group known as unknown gunmen.
Powerful urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) not to be deceived by false media propaganda of the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Service, stressing that IPOB could not hurt lawyers and journalists, assuming they were to be violent.
The statement read, “We the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, distance ourselves from the gruesome murder of a legal paractioner Barr. Darlington Chume Odume popular known as Omekagu who was murdered in Amaifeke Orlu Imo State by the state sponsored group known as unknown gunmen.
“Contrary to allegations by those bent on demonising IPOB, IPOB has no hand in the cruel and unconscionable killing of Barrister Darlington Chume Odume. Those perpetrating these murderous activities in Imo State and other parts of Biafra land are doing so just to implicate IPOB and the Eastern Security Network, ESN.
“We have several times explained that we have no hands in these gruesome killings in Biafra land but some do not want to believe us. IPOB is a non-violent and peaceful movement with presence in over 100 countries. We are only after the peaceful restoration of Biafra. Killings are not part of our mandate. Those committing these heinous crimes only do so to possibly implicate us and destroy our global image but we are innocent.
“The Nigeria Bar association, NBA should not be deceived by the Nigerian police and DSS with their false media propaganda. It makes no sense for IPOB to go after lawyers or journalists for instance, assuming we are to be violent. These two professionals are rather the best of our friends as they are the ones at our rescue in our quest for Justice. We will never contemplate hurting anyone belonging to either of these noble professions or any profession for that matter.
“Lawyers have been helping this struggle and facilitating the release of our people in different parts of Nigeria. They put their lives at risk for our sake, and there is no way we can sensibly reciprocate this rare gesture by going after them. It's an irony and most illogical. Those linking us with this barbarity should please look for a more intelligent script. IPOB cannot come down too low by killing our lawyers, journalists and Human Rights groups and persons.”