The Nigerian Army has denied allegations that it or the Department of
State Services (DSS) created the Biafra National Guard and the unknown
gunmen in the South-East.
This comes after the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) alleged recently
that the DSS created both groups to disunite Igbos and paint the IPOB
as a criminal group.
The Army described the claims as a hoax by the IPOB and the Eastern
Security Network to diminish the public support it's military activities
in the South-East has been getting.
Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu
disclosed this in a statement titled, ‘Conspiracy Pretext Employed By
IPOB/ESN, A Hoax,’ issued on Saturday, October 30.
The statement read, “The Nigerian Army(NA) is not unmindful of the
antics of individuals or groups whose stock in trade is to peddle
falsehood and disinformation to remain relevant in South-East Nigeria.
One of such scheming, currently in the media domain is the mischievous
submission by Kalu Odinakachi, who alleged that the DMI and DSS created
and funded BNG, UGM to Enforce-Sit- at Home in a bid to discredit
IPOB/ESN. It must be abundantly clarified that this spurious allegation
is unfounded and could be absolutely described as a hoax.
“Though the NA would not like to elevate such purveyors of
disinformation and propaganda, it is expedient to put on record, that in
recent times, the activities of IPOB/ESN have undoubtedly assumed a
violent dimension. This unimaginable level of violence is oiled with
propaganda and disinformation to whip-up sentiments and draw sympathy
from unsuspecting citizens in the region.
“For the records, the proscribed organisation has in recent times
foisted a sit-at-home order to show sympathy for their self-acclaimed
leader. This was greeted with violence, orchestrated destruction of
public installations and facilities, arson, as well as looting of shops
and malls in the region, to demonstrate their criminal potency. They
defiled the sanctity of the highly revered traditional institution of
Ndigbos by recklessly murdering their own traditional leaders. These
spineless and irresponsible actions targeted at the very people they
claim they want to liberate, clearly unmask their heinous and
directionless agenda for Ndigbos.
“Realising the futility, hollowness and public rejection of their
violent agitation, they resorted to twisting the narrative in the region
to galvanise local support. Their wild allegation that BNG and UGN were
an overt operation by the DMI and DSS is not only laughable but remains
largely illusive and a ploy to diminish the public support the NA is
savouring in the ongoing exercises. In his blatant display of ignorance,
Odinakachi failed to realise that such designation as DMI has since
ceased to exist in the NA. These criminal elements with their cohorts
must come to terms with the reality of the ongoing Exercise GOLDEN DAWN
and turn themselves in to security agencies or be ready to face the
consequences of their lawlessness.
“More grotesque is the narrative peddled by these merchants of
propaganda, in respect of IPOB/ESN gunmen recently eliminated by troops
in a shootout at Ekwulobia Roundout in Aguata LGA. These unscrupulous
elements insinuated that those taken out were Fulanis. An outrageous
claim that should be disregarded in its entirety. This is apparently
another failed attempt in their usual mannerism, to attribute their
criminal activities to a third party and feign innocence; an indication
of a visionless group totally devoid of integrity.”
“We encourage members of the public to provide actionable information to
security agencies as the Exercises progress,” the statement added.
