The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called for an independent investigation into the wave of extrajudicial killings in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State.
The group, in a strongly worded statement on the 28th of March, 2025, distanced its Eastern Security Network (ESN) from the brutal violence in the infamous Mother Valley camp, attributing the carnage to the Biafra Liberation Army.
IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, expressed appreciation for security interventions that ultimately dislodged the criminals who had wreaked havoc on Orsu for over three years. He accused the Biafra Liberation Army of exploiting the illegal detention of IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, as a pretext to destabilize the Southeast.
According to Powerful: “The global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) worldwide calls for an independent investigation into Orsu extrajudicial killings and what happened in Orsu. We commend the Security Forces and Vigilantes for dislodging the criminals inside the Mother Valley camp in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State no matter what purpose. Moreso, we commend the gallant men of ESN who frustrated the plans of the State sponsored criminals in order not to destabilize the entire Eastern region.”
He further alleged that individuals operating under the Biafra Liberation Army were mere impostors, backed by the Nigerian state to impersonate IPOB and ESN while terrorizing the region. These armed actors, he claimed, were deployed to tarnish IPOB’s reputation both locally and internationally.
“It is a known fact that the barbarians who branded themselves as Biafra Liberation Army under the command of the Chief impersonator infiltrator, buffoon who is currently facing terrorism charges in Finland were recruited and armed by the Nigerian State to impersonate IPOB and ESN.
“They were commanded to destabilize the entire Eastern Region (South East and South South) using the illegal detention of IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as an excuse. The objective was to use the criminals to blackmail IPOB locally and internationally.
“Unfortunately, for the criminals and their sponsors, the IPOB media team and other conscientious freedom lovers across the globe were constantly debunking and disassociating IPOB from the Autopilot criminals and their infamous Biafra Liberation Army. IPOB salutes all men and women of goodwill who helped in defeating the media onslaught against IPOB, thereby separating the chaff from the wheat.”
Powerful emphasized that IPOB had long identified the masterminds behind the Orsu attacks, naming individuals such as Temple, aka Butuzo, as key figures behind the carnage. He questioned why it took the Nigerian Joint Security Taskforce over three years to act when the location of these criminals had been public knowledge.
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“The question begging for answers is why was Imo State a habitat for these State sponsored criminals? Is Imo State and some neighboring Anambra Communities the only Biafra States? Why did it take over three years for the notorious Nigerian Joint Security Taskforce to dislodge those criminals in the Mother-Valley camp, the hideout which information was in the public domain? However, we commend efforts made to reclaim the deserted Orsu Community by the Nigerian Security Joint Taskforce. We also commend ESN Operatives for frustrating the criminals from destabilizing the entire region.”
While celebrating the liberation of Orsu, IPOB urged security forces to extend their operations to Aku forest in Okigwe, where another armed faction, led by Gentle Yahoo, continues to terrorize neighboring communities.
The group maintained that it stands against any form of violence against Ndigbo, whether from criminals or state-backed forces.
Reiterating its demand for justice, IPOB called on the Nigerian government to compensate victims of the crisis, including those affected by both criminal attacks and alleged extrajudicial killings by security forces.
“Once again, IPOB commends all the interventions that helped to dislodge the criminals in the Orsu community after they had wreaked havoc and left the communities in ruin for over 3 years. It’s better late than never. However, we demand an independent investigation into the actions and effects of what happened in those affected communities. The actors and their militias we have named above and the others should be investigated and, if found culpable, should be prosecuted. Finally, the Nigerian government and the Imo State Government should compensate the affected Communities and those who lost their loved ones, including victims of extrajudicial executions from the Nigerian Security Forces and the State sponsored militias.”
With Orsu gradually emerging from the shadows of violence, IPOB remains adamant that only a thorough probe will reveal the full extent of the orchestrated bloodshed and bring true justice to the people.