The Indigenous People of Biafra has refuted claims by Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah linking the group with Finland-based Simon Ekpa’s autopilot group, stating that they have no affiliation with Ekpa or his group. The governor had alleged that the police neutralized 27 kidnapping gangs of Eastern Security Network (ESN) members loyal to Ekpa in Enugu State, a claim branded as false and propaganda by IPOB’s spokesman Emma Powerful.
IPOB emphasized that Ekpa has no ties to ESN or IPOB, and the criminals neutralized by the police were not associated with the Biafra struggle. The group urged the governor to stop maliciously linking ESN and IPOB to Ekpa and his criminal associates, stressing that all ESN operatives are under the command of the Directorate of States of IPOB and do not engage in criminal activities.
IPOB called on the Nigerian government to cease blackmailing the group and ESN by falsely associating them with Ekpa’s group, reiterating their commitment to protecting Biafrans and defending against threats to peace and security.