By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Friday denied being responsible for the jailbreak in Owerri, Imo State, during which 1,827 inmates escaped.

IPOB was reacting to claims by the Nigeria Army at Obinze, Owerri accusing IPOB members of being responsible for the attack at the Correctional facility that freed 1,827 inmates.

Owerri Correctional Centre in Obinze is situated in close proximity to many Nigeria Security Agencies like the Nigeria Police command headquarters, the State’s CID, over six Police Stations, the Government House DSS office, Naval Command and military base.

However, IPOB said eyewitness accounts including Imo State Police’s report had said the attack on Owerri Correctional Center lasted for almost four hours without resistance or casualty.

A statement by IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, wondered where the surrounding security agencies were when the incident occurred.

The statement reads partly: “The attention of the global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by the indomitable leader, Mazi Nnamdi Okwu Kanu has been drawn to dubiosity of the Nigerian Army accusing IPOB of being responsible for attack at the Owerri Correctional Center in Imo State on April 5, 2021.

“To put the record straight, the attack at Owerri Correctional Center was masterminded by the Nigerian security.

“The question is where were all the surrounding Security Forces within Owerri when the attack was going on and numerous gunshots were heard? Who then ordered these Security Forces NOT to respond to the distressed calls during the attack which lasted nearly four (4) hours? What kind of jailbreak can last for four (4) hours without confrontation from any of the avalanche of Security Forces in and around Owerri municipal if not coordinated by the Government itself?

“Nigeria Army is just disgracing their military institution and displaying unprofessionalism by engaging in media blackmail and propaganda. Why did the Nigeria Army wait for 3 years to start yapping rubbish about the attack at Owerri Correctional Center?

“The State sponsored attack at the Owerri Correctional Center was organized by the Nigeria Government with her Security Agencies, especially the army to free criminals that they have been using in creating insecurity in the land of Biafra, particularly in Imo State just to blackmail IPOB.

“For over three (3) years the Nigerian Government refused to open an investigation on that attack. Thinking that Nigerians may have forgotten it, but, boom! they added the 2021 Owerri jailbreak to the list of their blackmailing strategies against IPOB in 2024. IPOB is not responsible for the Owerri jailbreak. Period.

“It was the Nigeria Government and her Security Agencies that masterminded the jailbreak in Owerri Correctional Center on April 5, 2021 and also at Kuje, Abuja jailbreak on July 5, 2022 to free criminals to be used for blackmailing IPOB and to release ISWAP terrorists in prison respectively.”

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