By: Security Desk
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has rejected claims linking it to Ifeanyi Okorienta, alias Gentle de Yahoo, arrested in Imo State by the Nigerian Army.
“We are not kidnappers, we are not criminals, we are not terrorists.”
IPOB Fires Back
In a statement, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, accused Nigerian security agencies of “satanic propaganda.” He said the movement remains peaceful and law-abiding, insisting: “We are not kidnappers, we are not criminals, we are not terrorists.”
Powerful dismissed the army’s claims as fabrications, arguing that Okorienta himself had denied being an IPOB member in widely circulated videos.
Accusations Against Security Forces
The statement accused the DSS, Army, and Police of routinely blaming IPOB for crimes ranging from kidnapping to robbery. Powerful said: “Today it is kidnapping, tomorrow it will be armed robbery, and next week they will blame IPOB for floods or road accidents. This is insane.”
He also criticised the media for publishing “unverified junk” that demonises IPOB and portrays the Igbo people in a negative light.
Legal Action Threatened
IPOB vowed to sue any media outlet or security agency publishing defamatory claims. “Every defamatory publication against IPOB will be dragged to court. The era of slandering IPOB and getting away with it is over,” the statement warned.
The group reiterated that its struggle for Biafra is rooted in justice and equity, not violence.
A Battle of Narratives
The exchange highlights the growing tension between Nigeria’s security forces and IPOB. While the army frames arrests as counter-terrorism victories, IPOB insists it is a non-violent movement facing systematic demonisation.
The controversy is expected to deepen as security agencies intensify operations in the southeast while IPOB pushes its case in courts and international forums.
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