Mbano Killings: IPOB Issues Imo Police a Seven-Day Ultimatum to Revoke Allegations or face Legal Repercussions

Mbano Killings: IPOB Issues Imo Police a Seven-Day Ultimatum to Revoke Allegations or face Legal Repercussions The Indigenous People of Biaf...

Mbano Killings: IPOB Issues Imo Police a Seven-Day Ultimatum to Revoke Allegations or face Legal Repercussions

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has presented a seven-day deadline to the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Danjuma Aboki, insisting on an immediate withdrawal of claims that associate the group with the recent attack and fatalities in the Umualuaku community within the Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of the State.

On Wednesday morning, residents of the Umualuaku community in the Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State were engulfed in fear when unidentified gunmen invaded the locality, unleashing a barrage of gunfire that lasted for hours.

The assailants reportedly entered the area around 5:30 am, firing indiscriminately and compelling residents to stay indoors out of fear and confusion.

The spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, ASP Henry Okoye, confirmed the incident, alleging that the attackers were suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed faction, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

In a statement issued by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, on Saturday, the organization condemned the Commissioner’s remarks as "defamatory, inciteful, and malicious."

IPOB demanded that the police commissioner tender a public, threatening legal action if the allegation is not withdrawn and the public apology not tendered.

According to Powerful, the statement made by the commissioner is “a disgraceful falsehood” and part of a “vile attempt to criminalise IPOB and mislead the public.”

“We state categorically that IPOB is not involved in any such violence. Mr. Aboki’s actions are defamatory, inciteful, and malicious. They violate the presumption of innocence and are part of a broader propaganda campaign to derail our peaceful advocacy,” the statement read.

IPOB emphasised that its movement remains peaceful and lawful in its agitation for the self-determination of the Biafran people and insisted that scapegoating IPOB for insecurity in the region is both irresponsible and dangerous.

“If he fails to retract these lies within 7 days, IPOB will drag him to court and hold him personally liable for reputational damage and criminal defamation under Nigerian law,” Powerful stated.

The group further accused security agencies of using IPOB as a convenient scapegoat to cover up failed operations and rising insecurity in the South-East.

“We will not tolerate further slander or scapegoating. The blood of our people must not be used to sanitise failed security operations and political incompetence,” IPOB stated.