According to reports, the Indigenous People of Biafra, or IPOB, ordered funerals to be prohibited in the country’s southeast.
Goldennewsng reports that a circular prohibiting burial ceremonies on certain days was distributed shortly after the Yuletide festivities to some communities in the Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State and some parts of Imo State.
In part, the circular reads:
“The ESN has issued a directive to all of the villages in the Ihiala LGA of Anambra State, which includes Amorka, Uli, Okija, Mbosi, Ubuluisiuzor, Isseke, and Ihiala town, prohibiting burials until after January 15, 2023. The oldest member of any family that disobeys the order would be executed.
Occupants of the local area have from that point forward been living in dread.
Emma Powerful, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, made the following assertion in a statement: “The pro-Biafran group only requested that the people should be burying their dead ones on time, instead of leaving corpses in the mortuary.” Emma Powerful said that ESN did not issue any order to stop burials in any community.
“We wish to state unequivocally to all and sundry that ESN has not issued any order to stop burials in any community, but IPOB has requested that the dead be buried on time,” the statement reads.
Again, ESN does not have camps in Orsumoghu, Okija, Uli, Ubuluisiuzo, Mbosi, Lilu, Amorka, Ihiala Iseke, Orsuihiteukwa, or Nnewi South.
In the majority of our press releases, IPOB has repeatedly stated that we do not have a camp in these areas. While linking ESN to the atrocities of their criminality, Biafran foes created and supported criminals camping in those areas.
Anyone who links operatives of IPOB and ESN to the crimes that are taking place in these areas is merely engaging in blackmail and agent provocation.
We’ve always pleaded with the Nigerian Army and other security forces to stop linking the IPOB to crime in the Southeast. They will regret fighting this innocent movement when Biafra comes.
The propagandistic lies against IPOB will never deceive the international community, which is fully aware of Biafra’s self-determination movement.
In some communities in and around Anambra and Imo State, sponsored criminals are issuing pointless orders prohibiting burials until January 15, 2023. These communities are not IPOB or ESN members.
They are cultists and criminals who have been brought in by some government officials. Members of the ESN or IPOB cannot issue orders that are so cruel. It was a mistake for IPOB to issue such an ignorant order. They simply wish to harm IPOB’s image and reputation.
These criminals pretending to be ESN must not allow the aforementioned communities to become vulnerable. To get rid of these criminals, the aforementioned communities must reason together and devise a plan. If the communities are willing, ESN and IPOB volunteers will support and assist them in eradicating the criminals.
No one should be allowed to continue using the names ESN and IPOB to harm our people. Instead of punishing or harming our people, IPOB and ESN are here to protect them. We are advising those who are committing crimes under the IPOB and ESN names to either stop or prepare for severe consequences this year.
Mazi Nnamdi KANU, our leader, has repeatedly stated that he wants peace in every state of Biafra Land. Before Biafra came, our land was peaceful, and it must remain so until then. Instead of issuing a foolish directive that no one should bury their loved ones until January 15, 2023, ESN and IPOB-DOS are encouraging our people to do so immediately.
