Ahead of the re-trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the group has accused the Nigerian government of intentionally attempting to sway public opinion ahead of the upcoming court hearing of their leader.
IPOB made the remark in a statement, insisting that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC-led government has no case against Kanu.
Reiterating its stance that IPOB is non-violent, in a statement over the weekend, its spokesman, Emma Powerful, accused the APC government of peddling false narratives to demonize the movement.
According to Powerful, no IPOB member has ever been convicted of any crime in Nigeria.
It reads further: “We strongly condemn the Nigerian government’s orchestrated media campaign to demonize our movement, particularly as the court hearing of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, approaches.
“For four years, government-friendly media houses have peddled false narratives, labelling IPOB as violent to sway public opinion and influence Abuja-based courts.
“This well-financed operation seeks to distract from the undeniable truth: the APC government has no case against Kanu.
“IPOB is a non-violent self-determination movement advocating for a democratic referendum to restore Biafra.
“No IPOB member has ever been convicted of any crime in Nigeria, yet the government persists in scapegoating us to divert attention from Fulani massacres and widespread insecurity across the country.
“The recent claim of a “police raid on an IPOB terror camp” in Imo State is another fabrication. IPOB maintains no camps in Imo or anywhere else.”