The leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has told Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi that he should stop misleading the people by asserting that IPOB and its vigilante group, Eastern Security Network (ESN) are after northerners living in Biafran land instead of terrorists and bandits causing security unrest in the zone.
Spokesman of the group, Emma Powerful, in a statement released to newsmen, Thursday posited that it is ridiculous for Gumi to assert that ESN is fighting Northerners living in the South East instead of criminals that have been terrorising the people in the geo-peoplitical zone.
Powerful in the statement pointed out that IPOB is not a blood sucking organisation but freedom fighters who are interested in the welfare of their people, adding that Gumi should not twist issues.
The statement reads thus: “Attention of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra IPOB, led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been drawn to the latest ranting and ridiculous claims by terrorist apologist, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, that IPOB, and Eastern Security Network, ESN, were killing Northerners. There is no iota of truth in such mischievous and fallacious claim.
“In case the self-acclaimed Islamic cleric has forgotten, may we remind him that neither IPOB nor ESN is a terrorist organization or Killers like his bandit clients and allies. Spilling of blood’is never part of our mandate.
“ESN is a child of necessity created for the defense of our ancestral land against terrorists and killer herdsmen wrecking havock across our communities. ESN is only defending our hapless mothers and sisters who have been raped, maimed and attacked without any justification by Fulani herdsmen.
“Since December 2020 when ESN was set up by our leader, these vampires have been on the run because of the heat from our gallant operatives across Biafran forests. For Sheikh Gumi who never gave a hoot while killer herdsmen rampaged our communities to try to twist the fact now is not only mischief but an act of terror itself.
“No Northerner in any part of Biafra land can prove that he/she has at any time been attached by IPOB or ESN. We are only chasing terrorists and bandits behind killings and kidnapping for ransom in our land.
“Gumi should be ashamed that an Islamic cleric as he claims has suddenly become a mouthpiece for bandits and terrorists. Why does Gumi have special interest in bandits and terrorists is an indication that he is a terrorist but has never shown any empathy to their victims of other Nigerians? Why is Gumi always advocating for terrorists and negotiating with them but never advanced the cause of victims of terror? What does Sheikh Gunmi have in common with bandits and terrorists?”
We’re not after northerners but terrorists, IPOB tells Gumi
