…Assassination of politicians not part of our agenda
… sit-at-home order for Monday not Sunday
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) said that its attention has been drawn to the untenable allegation that it is responsible for the assassination of former presidential aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak.
News Echo reports that Gulak was on Sunday, 30th May assassinated on his way to Sam Mbakwe Airport Owerri Imo State, an action which Nigeria intelligence community have linked IPOB with.
Comrade Emma Powerful, IPOB spokesman said that the group without equivocations states clearly that it does not know anything about the said assassination.
“We are not surprised that they quickly pointed accusing fingers at us just as they have always looked for every opportunity to incriminate us to frustrate our struggle for Biafra restoration.
“But this too will not fly because the world is aware that IPOB is a peaceful movement. IPOB is not a terrorist organization and does not spill blood. Our hearts go out to the family of Gulak. May his soul rest in peace,” he said.
Powerful inquired to know what the late Gulak constitute to their cause to warrant his alleged elimination by the group.
“We had nothing in common with him and could not have in any way killed him. Pointing accusing fingers at IPOB for this barbaric act is only meant to divert attention away from the real masterminds.
“This is the same way terrorists in security uniform commit various atrocities in South East and turn around to blame IPOB for their crimes just to tarnish our global reputation.
“This is purely a smokescreen to justify their long awaited plan to declare another special military operation in the Eastern region to kill more innocent Biafrans.”
Powerful said that instead of the security agencies to properly investigate the incident and possible factors they were quick to accuse IPOB of a crime the group knows nothing about.
“Did IPOB have the itinerary of the late Gulak to have waylaid him at the airport? Before linking IPOB with the crime the jaundiced security agencies should have first investigated Gulak’s host, Hope Uzodima, as well as his political opponents to establish their possible involvement.
“This is akin to the allegation by the Lagos Commissioner of Police who raised false alarm recently that IPOB and ESN were planning to attack Lagos State.
“This was to conceal the plans by the terrorists patronising Nigeria Government to use their imported terrorists to bomb soft targets in the City of Lagos and blame it on IPOB.
“But thank God some discerning minds understood their antics and did not fall for their cheap propaganda.
“Had the late Chief of Army Staff Attahiru’s plane crashed in the East, definitely, the so-called Intelligence Agency would say it was IPOB that shot down everyone in core North would believe it.
“For us, linking IPOB with the assassination of Gulak is simply to pitch the East against the core Islamic North as a cover and justification for another round of pogrom against Easterns living in the North.
“We are only after the restoration of Biafra. Assassination of politicians is not part of our agenda otherwise we would have killed the ‘Efulefu’ politicians in the Eastern region sabotaging our struggle.
“We are in mournful mood ahead of the May 31st Biafra Remembrance Day in honour of our fallen heroes.
“Those looking for any slightest opportunity to blackmail us should not cash in on the sit-at-home order given by our Leader for our fallen heroes.
“The order is for Monday and not Sunday. People were freely moving about on the streets of Biafra without any molestations by IPOB and there was no way we could have singled out Gulak for attack because we a non-violent movement.
“We challenge Aso Rock to Institute an independent panel of inquiry to investigate the incident and expose those behind this gruesome murder of an innocent man.”
Meanwhile, Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bala Elkana said that the Commissioner of Police in Imo, CP Abutu Yaro has directed a discreet investigation into the matter as Tactical and Special forces have been deployed to cordon off the area and arrest perpetrators.
He said that armed bandits intercepted and attacked a Toyota Camry cab carrying Ahmed Gulak and two others who were on their way to Sam Mbakwe Airport to catch a flight.
