By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has distanced itself from one Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, a retired operative of the Department of State Services (DSS) who was arraigned before an Abuja Federal High Court on Thursday.

Ezeakolam was arraigned on a 4-count charge before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar for allegedly rendering support and material assistance to IPOB, contrary to and punishable under Section 13 of Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.

However, reacting to the development on Friday, IPOB, in a statement by spokesman Emma Powerful, said it does not know the suspect. The statement warned the DSS to stop dragging IPOB into its propaganda operations.

"The attention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), under the supreme leadership of Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been drawn to reports of the arraignment and remand at Kuje Correctional Centre of one Nwaogu Ihechimere Ezeakolam, described as a retired DSS operative.

IPOB does not know this man. He is not an IPOB officer, operative, representative or agent known to our command structure. Whatever issues exist between him and his former employers are matters for them. The DSS must stop using IPOB’s name as a convenient label for its internal dramas," the group said.

The statement expressed concern that "another stranger has been linked to IPOB" even when the court has not determined the allegations.

According to IPOB, the DSS should provide evidence that Ezeakolam is a member of the group as alleged.

"IPOB challenges the DSS publicly: Produce the evidence that this man is an IPOB member. Who recruited him? Into which family was he admitted? Who was his Coordinator? What office did he occupy? To which command structure did he report? Who in the legitimate hierarchy communicated with him? When and where did he join?

"Membership is not established merely because the DSS writes “IPOB” on a charge sheet," the statement added.

IPOB raised suspicion over the decision to remand Ezeakolam in Kuje Prison, noting that the move could be a covert operation to infiltrate the custodial centre and obtain information.

The statement said, "A former DSS operative, prosecuted by the DSS, is now remanded inside Kuje Correctional Centre. That combination cannot be waved away. Custodial environments are known targets for intelligence gathering and infiltration. The placement of an operative or informant under the appearance of ordinary detention is a possibility no serious observer should dismiss.

"IPOB regards this episode with profound suspicion. We ask: Is this a genuine prosecution, or is the alleged IPOB connection being used as cover to place an intelligence asset or informant inside Kuje?

"We do not claim to possess evidence establishing this as a judicial fact. But given his reported DSS background, prosecution by the same agency, remand in Kuje, and the manufactured IPOB link, the circumstances are sufficiently suspicious to warrant vigilance."

IPOB warned the DSS and the Nigerian Correctional Service that any attempt by any person—serving or retired officer, agent or informant—to falsely present himself as connected to IPOB in order to penetrate or compromise persons in custody will be exposed.

It stressed that nobody should assume a person to be an IPOB member merely because the DSS has accused him of being one.

IPOB in the same vein said it has observed that whenever attention shifts toward developments favourable to Nnamdi Kanu or IPOB, "another convenient IPOB story emerges: an arrest, a surrender, a raid, a parade of weapons, or a stranger suddenly labelled “commander,” “financier” or “operative.” The script is exhausted".

The pro-Biafra group expressed regrets that the type of attention given to issues allegedly concerning IPOB was not displayed when worshippers were abducted recently at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Inoyi, Affa, Udi LGA, Enugu State.

Stating its position, IPOB insisted that the retired DSS operative, Ezeakolam, "does not speak for IPOB, does not represent IPOB, holds no position known to IPOB and IPOB has not authorised him to act on its behalf".

"IPOB has no organisational connection with this individual whatsoever. If the DSS alleges otherwise, let it prove the allegation in court while respecting his presumption of innocence.

"We demand independent verification of his identity and reported background, transparency on the circumstances of his remand, and evidence—not assertions—for any alleged IPOB link. We further call for scrutiny of the decision to remand a purported former intelligence operative inside Kuje.

"Stop dragging IPOB into every DSS operation. Stop manufacturing connections where none exist. Stop using IPOB as the permanent diversionary headline," the statement added.

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