The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, has berated Amnesty International Nigeria, for what it described as a hasty conclusion that it has a hand in the alleged gunmen attack of people at Okigwe road in Imo State.

IPoB in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, described Amnesty International Nigeria as a human rights group that has long lost credibility, following its hobnobbing with the Nigerian federal government, adding that it is no more a human rights group that is taken serious and can be relied upon any longer.

The pro-Biafra group also said that it is worrisome and concerning that a supposed human rights group as Amnesty International Nigeria, would stoop so low as to align with blackmailers against IPoB and ESN, using media manipulation to tarnish the image of a responsible group like IPoB.

It said that with the hasty conclusion that IPoB and ESN were involved in the Okigwe road attack on people last Thursday, Amnesty International Nigeria has diminished its credibility as a reliable human rights organisation.

IPoB’s statement read, “The esteemed family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, globally denounce what can be termed as State-sponsored terrorist assaults on civilians along the Okigwe-Owerri road in Imo State on May 8, 2025.

“Simultaneously, we denounce all forms of media extortion aimed at IPoB and ESN, especially from Amnesty International Nigeria, for alleging and highlighting IPoB and ESN as offenders in those crimes.

“It is truly tragic that the Nigerian government has repeatedly conducted terrorist attacks against its own people merely to coerce IPoB into submission.

“Since 2021, the Nigerian State has funded numerous violent criminal acts in the South East Region, using some irresponsible media and fake rights groups to attribute those criminal assaults to IPoB and ESN to evade investigations.

“Included in those violent events, the Nigerian government at all levels have sponsored and linked IPoB, was the Owerri prison escape, which went on for more than four hours without any response from security forces, despite the multitude of Nigerian security personnel present in and around the Owerri area.

“We also recall the political assassination of Alhaji Ahmed Gulak in Owerri, who was invited to the State by Governor Hope Uzodinma, without providing him security, which indicates that the government orchestrated his murder in Imo State.

“The hiring of hoodlums who aggressively upheld the notorious sit-at-homes and devastated the Orsu community and beyond, and Imo State government’s recruitment of criminals under the guise of Ebubagu and Asawana, militia, has resulted in the extrajudicial killings of numerous Igbo youths.

“The deceptive operation by the Nigerian military in Aba on Biafra Heroes Day, May 30, 2024, led to the deaths of 4 Igbo soldiers who were used as sacrificial victims. The alleged murder of 30 individuals and torching of vehicles belonging to people along the Okigwe-Owerri road in Imo State on May 8th, 2025, is a plan by Nigeria government and Amnesty International Nigeria, joining together to ambush IPoB and ESN operatives locally and internationally.

“In all these violent offences, the Nigerian government and some of the biased media outlets in Nigeria attribute everything crime to IPoB and ESN, which Amnesty International follows for minor and peanuts reward from Nigeria government and Imo State Government.

“However, as a peaceful self-determination movement, we have separated ourselves from all these claims and Amnesty International cannot claim that they don’t know that IPoB and ESN members were not involved in the killing and insecurity going on since 2021 till today. We are guiltless of every allegation by Nigerian federal government and reward-seeking Amnesty International Nigeria.

“We have similarly requested that international and independent investigative bodies, not the likes of Amnesty International Nigeria, be brought in to examine all these offences IPoB and ESN are being accused of. Regrettably, the Nigerian government and its violent security forces have never carried out any inquiry into the offences before its paid agents and groups accuse IPoB.

They blame IPoB and ESN for all their wrongdoings simply to evade scrutiny since the state is involved or plays a key role in these offences.

“IPoB has faced numerous state-sponsored media assaults and extortion-instigated allegations from various compromised media outlets in Nigeria, which have turned into a method for them to profit from the corrupt Nigerian government.

“As a dedicated and accountable movement, we have protected ourselves by exposing all their fabrications in the media and their created deceptions. Nonetheless, the recent report by Amnesty International, Nigeria, labelling IPoB and ESN as the culprits behind the Okigwe arson attack on innocent Biafran individuals and their properties demonstrates the extent of deceit afflicting that once-revered human rights organisation like Amnesty International Nigeria, because of its ties to corrupt Nigerian government.

“It is worrisome and concerning that a supposed human rights organisation such as Amnesty International Nigeria would stoop so low as to align with blackmailers against ESN by using media manipulation to undermine the innocent vigilante, while allowing Fulani terrorists to invade Ndigbo unopposed.

“With this development, Amnesty International Nigeria has diminished its credibility as a reliable human rights organisation, and the result of this is people not taking them seriously in rights activism.

Amnesty International Nigeria has become entangled in the corruption and bribery in the Nigerian system. They have become entangled in the corruption and bribery of the Nigerian government and are now opposing free press. Unfortunately, the Nigerian government has acquired numerous institutions in Nigeria solely to maintain the media attacks against IPoB.

“Amnesty International’s involvement with this corrupt coalition of organisations to extort IPoB and its vigilante groups is a shame for the human rights community and a disgrace to the individuals in the group. The Amnesty International Nigeria will face disgrace for aligning with those compensated both locally and globally to marling IPoB.

“If Amnesty International Nigeria is free from corruption, this formerly esteemed human rights organisation would have demanded an independent inquiry into these horrific terrorist assaults on civilians in South East before linking IPoB and ESN members and might not have rushed to conclusions like other closely controlled Nigerian coalition groups against IPoB and ESN.

“We have never targeted our recognised adversaries, much less harm innocent individuals travelling from Okigwe to Owerri within our region. All media assaults utilising human rights groups such as Amnesty International Nigeria to compel IPoB to yield are ineffective from their start.

“We will proceed with all the aspects of truth and we will persist in demanding an independent inquiry into all state-sponsored covert violent acts against civilians in the South East Region. We additionally urge Amnesty International to enlist independent investigative teams that are committed to examining the attacks in Okigwe, and they will be embarrassed for bringing up IPoB and ESN, as the Nigerian government lacks sincerity.

“Independent inquiries into all violent crimes in the South East Region should be permitted, including those involving the deadly Fulani terrorists. IPoB and ESN swore to safeguard Biafran lives and assets rather than to harm them. We urge the Nigerian government to cease the killing and destruction of innocent lives merely for the purpose of blackmailing and demonising IPoB and ESN.

“IPoB and ESN pledged to safeguard Biafran lives and properties and not to harm them. We urge the Nigerian government to cease the killing and devastation of innocent lives merely to blackmail and vilify IPoB and ESN.

“We will not yield to any type of extortion. The sole answer to the Biafra agitation is an open dialogue regarding Biafra’s freedom or a referendum, rather than through violence or staged false flag operations.” (Saturday Vanguard)