IPOB made the allegation on Monday in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, saying the police are trying to get the separatist group involved in the Nigerian government’s “fraudulent political processes”.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has alleged that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, is planning to blackmail it and its militant arm, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
IPOB made the allegation on Monday in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, saying the police are trying to get the separatist group involved in the Nigerian government’s “fraudulent political processes”.
The group, therefore, warned the IGP to desist from such a plan as IPOB has no interest in anything that has to do with Nigeria and its political processes.
IPOB said, “We the global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is amused to the laughable and disgraceful statement credited to the Inspector General of Police linking ESN and IPOB to their already planned attacks on political campaigns and fraudulent election.
“The corrupt government and their compromised security should know that IPOB and ESN volunteers don't engage with Nigeria's shambolic political campaigns and selection process they call election.
“The IG of Police should leave IPOB volunteers and ESN operatives alone to focus on things that matter instead of trying to get them involved in the Nigerian Government and its fraudulent political processes.
“If Nigeria Police have concluded their plans to commit crimes during political campaigns and tag it on IPOB and ESN, they will fail as usual.
“Any time Nigerian security agencies raise false alarms, know that they have planned attacks to blackmail IPOB and ESN operatives but we cannot allow them to continue their business of blackmail. These compromised security agencies have killed innocent people in an effort to blackmail IPOB but Chukwu Okike Abiama has always vindicated us.
“We have always maintained that we are not interested in anything that has to do with Nigeria let alone taking any side in their fraudulent political process. IPOB are not Zoo politicians. The only political process that IPOB will participate in is a UN-supervised Biafra Referendum that will usher in Biafra Sovereignty and Independence.
“Anyone intending to link ESN operatives, volunteers, including IPOB members in their planned political attacks is deluded and regret will always be their portion.
“The Inspector of Police and his criminal officers should stop their planned attacks because they will always be exposed and disgraced. IPOB's hands are clean. In the process of blackmailing IPOB they will plunge Nigeria into a political crisis that will consume Nigeria and their corrupt politicians.
“If this Fulani-led government wants IPOB to be part of their politics, they should fix a date for the Biafra Referendum then they will see the civilized political prowess of IPOB. Desperately linking IPOB to this fraudulent election shows that the government has lost focus.
“IPOB has remained peaceful and nonviolent in our quest of seeking Biafra freedom from Nigeria State and no amount of blackmail can change our resolve to restore Biafra from the shackles of Nigeria Government.
“Nigeria Government should leave IPOB/ESN alone. We are bigger than their political strategies. They can link or lure other groups into Nigeria Politics but not IPOB because we remain focused on our mission and can't be attracted to what we abhor. We abhor anything about Nigeria and can't be attracted to what we have rejected.
He said IPOB is “not interested in the selection process they call election in Nigeria because it doesn't meet our standards to achieve Biafra freedom”.
“IPOB will achieve Biafra freedom, not through Nigeria politics or election but through a UN-supervised referendum or an outright declaration of Biafra,” it added.