Umahi: Criminals using IPOB’s name to commit crime in south-east

David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi state, says some criminals commit crime under the guise of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the south-east.

The governor said this on Thursday when he featured on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’.

IPOB has been blamed for the recent attacks on prisons and police stations in the south-east.

The group, however, said reports linking it or its security outfit, ESN, to the attacks are false.

Speaking on Thursday, Umahi said the fact of what is happening is that some criminals not affiliated with IPOB, use the group’s name to commit crime in the south-east.

“The truth of what is happening is that there are bandits everywhere; there are cultists everywhere. What happens now in south-east is that criminals who may not necessarily be members of IPOB and ESN, will go and commit crimes and they need a name. So it’s safer for them to say they are members of ESN, and IPOB so that the persecution of IPOB and ESN by the federal government will cover them,” he said.

“That is what is happening in south-east because IPOB and ESN have a number of times come out to say they are not into terrorism and violence, and the people burning police stations and killing are not their members. And so how do you reconcile the two?”

Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo, had also said those responsible for the attacks in the state are “criminal elements” operating under the cover of the proscribed IPOB.