The outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has reacted to the abduction of two Chinese nationals in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
In a statement on Friday by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, IPOB distanced its militia wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) from the kidnap of the foreigners.
Powerful stated that IPOB and ESN are not involved in kidnapping and banditry, saying the separatist group is only seeking the emergence of a sovereign state of Biafra.
He told the Chinese government and the people of China that Igbo people are peace-loving and hospitable, adding that the proscribed group doesn’t spill blood. 
The statement read, “The attention of IPOB has been drawn to the false allegation and propaganda being peddled against IPOB and ESN operatives that they kidnapped two Chinese nationals in Owerri Imo State.
“We want to make it abundantly clear to the public that IPOB and ESN security outfit have no hands in the said abduction. We are not into kidnapping or abduction for ransom. Such barbarity characteristic of bandits and terrorists is not part of our mandate. We are peaceful agitators for Biafra restoration.
“These efforts to link IPOB/ESN with violence and criminalities are the handiwork of our detractors and enemies. But they will continue to fail woefully because the world knows that we are not a terror group.
“The Nigerian government has recruited sorts of fake ESN and hoodlums to implicate and demonise us but the more they try, the more our innocence is proved. We can’t be a terror organisation and still maintain presence in over 100 countries.
“Nigeria keeps releasing real terrorists who are still fighting and killing their citizens including security agents without reasons, yet at the same time framing up innocent freedom seekers as terrorists just to implicate them and discredit their global reputation. But they will never succeed.
“The Chinese government and the people of China should know that Biafrans are peace-loving and hospitable. We don’t spill blood. We are enterprising people scattered across the surface of the earth.
“There is hardly any country on earth where Biafrans are not residing and thriving with their legitimate businesses even in China. They should check if we have been linked with any barbarity like kidnapping in any part of the globe. How come it is in Nigeria that we will resort to such criminality? This is another propaganda by our enemies to disrepute us, and it must be disregarded.”
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