Powerful said that ESN operatives were intact and waiting for the last whistle for Biafra freedom, adding that their focus was “not on killing our people in Biafraland."
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has debunked claims by the Nigerian Air Force that its troops bombed IPOB's Eastern Security Network (ESN) camps in Imo and Anambra states in the Southeast region of the country.
The Nigerian Air Force's Director of Public Relations and Information, Edward Gabkwet, had in a statement on Wednesday said that the air team on Tuesday carried out air strikes at separate locations including Mother Valley Orsumughu in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra state and Aku Ihube in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo state.
Reacting to the claim, IPOB in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, on Thursday described the claim of the bombing as "bluff", saying that ESN had no camps in the claimed locations.
"We are bold to say that ESN does not have camps in any of the bombed locations. However, as much as we detest the criminals impersonating IPOB and ESN in their violent activities in the name of Biafra struggle, we nevertheless condemn the bombing of any part of Biafra land by the Nigeria Air Force.
"The Nigeria security operatives should speak the truth for once. They knew that the people are not IPOB or ESN members. We totally condemn this bombing and destruction of our land."
Powerful said that ESN operatives were intact and waiting for the last whistle for Biafra freedom, adding that their focus was “not on killing our people in Biafraland."
According to Powerful, "The confessions from the victims to these criminal gangs have proven time after time that they are not ESN operatives but common criminals and kidnappers using sit-at-home, and the release of Nnamdi Kanu as a cover.
"We have written several press releases disassociating ourselves from the criminal gangs operating around Uli, Ihiala, Nnewi, Osuihiteukwa, Orsumughu, and recently Okigwe axis.
"For the avoidance of doubt, Biafra does not have an army, and there is nothing called Biafran Liberation Army in Biafra land or in diaspora. What we have are vigilante outfits and the Eastern Security Network (ESN), not a Biafran army."
He stated that the criminals operating in military camouflage parading themselves as Biafra Liberation Army are sponsored agents, not ESN operatives.