Separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has rejected claims by the Nigerian police that it was involved in the killing of Ahmed Gulak, a former adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
IPOB in a statement by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, described the accusation as untenable and diversionary, stating that the assassination of politicians was not part of its agenda.
Mr Gulak was shot dead in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on Sunday morning on his way to the airport.
The Imo state police command the same day identified IPOB and its security arm, Eastern Security Network (ESN) as being responsible for the killing of Mr Gulak.
The police in a statement issued on Sunday night said Mr Gulak’s killers were traced to their location within the state where they were shot dead during a gun battle with police operatives.
“We are only after the restoration of Biafra,” the group said in the statement.
“The attention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), ably led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been drawn to the untenable allegation by the security agencies that IPOB was responsible for the assassination of former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, on his way to Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, Imo State.
“We state without equivocation that IPOB knows nothing about the said assassination. In the first place, what threat did the late Gulak constitute to our cause to warrant his elimination? We had nothing in common with him and could not have in any way killed him.
“This is the same way terrorists in security uniform commit various atrocities in South-east and turn around to blame IPOB for their crimes to tarnish our global reputation,” he said.
“Did IPOB have the itinerary of the late Gulak to have waylaid him at the airport?
“Before linking IPOB with the crime the jaundiced security agencies should have first investigated Gulak’s host, Hope Uzodima, as well as his political opponents to establish their possible involvement.”
By Abel Ejikeme
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