IPOB Responds to DSS Arrest of Five Suspects in NYSC Kidnapping Case

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has reacted to the arrest of five suspects by the Department of State Services (DSS). These suspects are accused of kidnapping prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members along the Owerri–Onitsha Expressway in Imo State.

In a statement released on Wednesday by IPOB spokesperson Comrade Emma Powerful, the group criticized the public display of the suspects. They claimed it highlights the growing threat from Fulani bandits and foreign criminals in the region. IPOB questioned what might have happened if the suspects had not been caught, suggesting that the blame would have unfairly fallen on Biafra supporters and the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

IPOB expressed gratitude for the arrests, stating that if they had not called for independent investigations, the narrative would have falsely implicated them in the crime. They emphasized that both IPOB and ESN are not involved in criminal activities and were formed to protect the local community from invaders.

The group acknowledged the professionalism of the DSS in Imo State for not attributing the crime to IPOB or ESN, a practice they say has occurred in past security incidents. IPOB has called for the full disclosure of the suspects’ identities and backgrounds, urging a thorough investigation to reveal the true nature of the criminal elements in the South-East.

IPOB also highlighted the foresight of their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in creating the ESN to protect the region. They criticized the ongoing imprisonment of Kanu for his efforts to safeguard his homeland while security issues continue to rise. The group urged South-East governors and leaders to focus on real security solutions rather than targeting IPOB.