The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has challenged Senator Orji Uzor Kalu to substantiate his allegations that the group and its security wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), were responsible for the deaths of 30,000 people in the South-East.
In a statement on Saturday, IPOB’s spokesperson, Comrade Emma Powerful, demanded that Kalu, a former governor of Abia State, provide evidence to support the claim or issue a public apology. “Blackmail involving grave criminal allegations such as mass murder is not merely a political issue,” the statement said.
The group also levelled a series of counter-accusations against Kalu, alleging political manipulation, misgovernance, and collusion with criminal elements during his tenure. IPOB claimed Kalu “jeopardised the safety of Abia and Enugu States” by allegedly ceding the Lokpanta market along the Enugu–Port Harcourt expressway to criminal actors in exchange for political benefits, contributing to insecurity and kidnappings along the Enugu–Aba corridor.
IPOB further accused the former governor of mismanaging state resources, running a system of political godfatherism, and presiding over substandard infrastructure projects, alleging that successive administrations before Governor Alex Otti suffered the consequences of this network of political beneficiaries.
The group also referenced Kalu’s alleged use of the Bakassi Vigilante Group for political purposes after assuming office in 1999. According to IPOB, the vigilante group predated his administration, but Kalu deployed it against political opponents. The statement also cited an unverified killing linked to the Bakassi Boys involving a man named Ezeji from Mbaise.
Defending itself, IPOB reiterated that it is a peaceful self-determination organisation operating within domestic and international laws. It insisted that its members are unarmed and nonviolent, and described the ESN as an organised vigilante group formed to protect rural communities from violent attacks. “There is no proof of ESN’s aggression against communities,” the group stated, adding that the Nigerian government has not provided “incontrovertible evidence” linking IPOB or ESN to killings in the South-East.
IPOB also distanced itself from armed groups such as Autopilot and the so-called Biafra Liberation Army, which it claimed are funded or supported by political interests, including Senator Kalu.
The group demanded that Kalu provide the identities of the purported 30,000 victims allegedly killed by IPOB and ESN, warning that the public and international community awaited proof. “If not, he ought to issue a public apology for his deceptive comments,” the statement said.
IPOB’s stance underscores the ongoing political tensions in the South-East, where accusations and counter-accusations between political actors, security agencies, and separatist groups continue to dominate public discourse.
Emman Tochi ✔
Emma Tochi is Naija247news Media Northern Bureau Chief, he's based in FCT Abuja. He overseas the northern operations of this business media
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