IPOB Denies Involvement in Abduction of NYSC Members in Imo, Demands Probe
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has denied involvement in the abduction of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State, calling for an independent investigation into the incident.
In a statement issued over the weekend, IPOB spokesperson and Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, condemned the abduction and rejected allegations linking the Biafra movement to the incident. The group also questioned reports surrounding what it described as a staged rescue of the corps members.
“Any attempt to link Biafra agitators to the kidnapping of innocent youth corps members is a calculated falsehood meant to demonise our movement,” Powerful said.
IPOB also accused Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma of manipulating the state’s security arrangements for political reasons. The group claimed that Imo had become a focal point for such incidents across the South-East and South-South, although it did not provide independently verified evidence in the statement to support the allegation.
Powerful further alleged that Uzodimma’s political ambitions, including an alleged interest in becoming Senate President, were influencing his actions. He also claimed that some Igbo politicians feared the political implications of Kanu’s release. These claims were presented by IPOB and have not been independently established in the supplied report.
The group raised concerns over what it described as unusual security gaps following the alleged withdrawal of military personnel from key checkpoints in Imo State. It claimed that politically sponsored militias and armed groups had exploited these gaps to carry out attacks, abductions and ransom-related activities that could subsequently be blamed on IPOB.
IPOB also reiterated its intention to boycott elections, saying it would announce its specific approach closer to the time. Powerful alleged that criminal elements had used previous Monday sit-at-home activities and the group’s stated election boycott as cover for criminal acts. He maintained that IPOB did not target civilians, students or NYSC members and described its stated objective as self-determination through a referendum.
The group called for an immediate, open and independent international investigation into the abductions along the Onitsha–Owerri axis. It also demanded scrutiny of the financial transactions linked to alleged ransom payments, urging the public and international community to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.