By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Tuesday called on the Transition Chairman of Onitsha South, Hon Emeka Orji, to desist from recruiting criminals and tagging them operatives of the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

It insisted that it does not partner with politicians nor engage in civil matters in Biafra land.

The group accused Hon Orji of recruiting criminals who he claimed to be ESN Operatives and using them to intimidate innocent Onitsha residents.

IPOB in a statement signed by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful and made available to News Express said: "The attention of IPOB has been drawn to the impersonation of ESN during demolition of people's properties in Onitsha by the Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo through his Transition Chairman, Hon. Emeka Joseph Orji.

"Hon. Emeka Orji who is the Transitional Chairman of Onitsha South Local Government Area recruited criminals who claimed to be ESN Operatives and used them to intimidate innocent Onitsha residents.

"This Emeka Joseph Orji recruited and trained his criminal gangs that impersonate ESN. The criminal gangs operating in Onitsha under the command of Hon. Emeka Joseph Orji are not IPOB/ESN.

"They are common criminals and must be treated as such. ESN Operatives are in the bushes combating Fulani terrorists and their cows. ESN do not engage in civil matters and do not intimidate or harass innocent people. The Government of Soludo and his appointee, Hon. Emeka Orji should stop using the name of ESN in their nefarious activities.

"Hon. Emeka Joseph Orji is among those creating artificial insecurity in Anambra State. He is among the agents who the Nigerian Government is using to blackmail IPOB. Hon. Emeka Orji was caught on camera boasting that he defeated Nigeria soldiers in a gun battle during the wicked demolition exercise he undertook at NIWA property at Sokoto road near main market Onitsha.

"He falsely claimed to be working with ESN Operatives. He has made thousands of people homeless and jobless by these atrocious demolition of that property belonging to NIWA, Soludo must stop demolition of a place ordinary citizens do their business and getting food for their families in Anambra state."

The group called on Biafrans and the public to ignore the false claim by the Chairman of Onitsha South LGA that ESN are working with him in his ill actions against innocent people.

It also called on Soludo to warn Orji to desist from impersonating ESN using criminals, saying that the Impersonation of IPOB and ESN is a serious offense.

IPOB further added, "Soludo should stop the insecurity that his political associates like Emeka Orji created in Anambra State. Those sponsoring insecurity in the East will be held to account one day soon.

"IPOB is not pleased the way our people are suffering under this governments both federal and state governments.

"ESN and IPOB volunteers are not thugs to be hired by corrupt politicians. ESN Operatives protects the citizens, not intimidate them. This gullible man is using his hired criminals to intimate the Onitsha residents. Emeka Joseph Orji and his criminal gang have no links with ESN Operatives nor IPOB volunteers."

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