The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) says Awurum Eze, the man arrested by the military for being the “second-in-command” to slain Commander Ikonso was never part of the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
The Herald had reported that the Army through a Wednesday night statement signed by its spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima announced that it Eze on May 12 in Aba, Abia State.
“Awurum Eze is one of the main sponsors of the numerous killings in Imo State and has been on the wanted list of security agents for more than 3 months. Many of the arrested IPOB/ESN terrorists had earlier mentioned him as their key sponsor, mastermind and second in Command to late Ikonso,” the statement read in part.
But in a counter statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB’s distanced the group from 48-year-old Eze.
It described the Army’s arrest of Ikonso’s deputy as “a blatant lie and a cheap propaganda to lay false claims to imaginary military prowess.”
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IPOB said that “such a man is too old to be recruited into ESN let alone being Ikonso’s Second-in-Command.”
The group said, “That you ambushed Ikonso with the help of some traitors did not mean you have crushed ESN. Stop claiming what you have not done in your bid to win public accolades. If you arrest or kill Ikonso’s Second-in-Command, we will not hesitate to admit it just the same way we did not deny the murder of Ikonso. We are not like Nigeria that lives in propaganda; we tell the truth always. So, stop harassing innocent Biafrans in the name of a manhunt for ESN personnel.
“The Nigeria security agents should stop making a mockery of themselves. The arrest of innocent Biafrans and labeling them ESN operatives cannot make you overpower our gallant ESN operatives.
“Our background check revealed that the said man had issues with his traditional ruler who gave his contact to the security agents alleging that he belongs to ESN. He is not our own.”
The group accused the military of secretly abducting and killing its members.
However, it said, this would not make the military “win ESN in this fight for freedom”.
IPOB said that the alleged abductions and killing would not shake the group’s resolve to restore Biafra as an independent nation.