By Chimaobi Nwaiwu, NNEWI

THE Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, yesterday countered the alleged Imo State government claim that His Royal Majesty, Eze Samuel Agunwa Ohiri of Orodo, Mbaitoli Local Government of Imo state, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

IPoB in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary Emma Powerful, alleged that the traditional ruler was kidnapped by agents of the Imo state government in conjunction with agents of a traditional ruler who was disposed of by a former Governor of Imo State.

IPoB alleged that the kidnap of Eze Ohiri is not unconnected with a retaliation move by the traditional ruler and the present government of Imo State, adding that his kidnap was executed by a notorious hatchet jobman of Imo State government.

IPoB’ statement read “The global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, ably led by our supreme and indomitable leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu condemn the recent kidnap of HRM Eze Samuel Agunwa Ohiri, from his compound on the 6th of January 2024 at Orodo in Mbaitolu Local Government of Imo state, by agents of Imo State government and a once deposed traditional ruler in the state.

“The IPoB intelligence unit has uncovered those behind the heinous crime. The claim that the kidnappers were unknown gunmen was false. Those behind the kidnapping of the Eze Ohiri, were agents of Imo State government and that of a traditional ruler who was deposed by former Governor Richas Okorocha.

“The agents of Imo State government and that of the traditional ruler kidnapped Eze Samuel Agunwa Ohiri and his brother Solomon Ohiri, using the Imo State government killer squad led by led by a notorious advance fee fraud practitioner brought into the government of the state to carry out hatchet job for the state government.

The traditional went for revenge because the former governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, used Eze Ohiri to unseat him as the Chairman of Imo State Traditional Rulers, during the Okorocha regime. During that regime the traditional rulers were tools for oppression, the present regime is doing the same thing. The two dictators in Imo State, namely Rochas Okorocha and Hope Uzodinma, used and are still using traditional rulers against the Imo town unions and communities.

“IPoB is not interested in their political fight, mismanagement or gambling in the state. However, politicians and their political jobbers should not turn Alaigbo, particularly Imo State, into an unsafe place.

“Most of the kidnapping and forceful disappearances in Biafra land have been politically motivated, but they will blame it on unknown gunmen or sometimes on IPoB. Sometimes we are forced to ask, who are the unknown gunmen, and who are their sponsors?

“IPoB is calling on the agents of the Imo State government and that of the traditional ruler, not to murder Eze Ohiri and his brother, Solomon Ohiri, but to release them unharmed immediately. IPoB has made this secret open so that the Imo State government will understand that their secret plans can always be exposed.

“Should Eze Ohiri be murdered, Hope Uzodimma led the Imo State government, the notorious traditional and their notorious 419 kingpins they use for hatchet jobs should be held responsible, not unknown gunmen. We know the planners and executioners of the kidnap of the traditional ruler and his brother.

“The various kidnappings and killings going on in Imo State, which they tag on unknown gunmen or IPoB, were carried out by the killer squad of Imo government led by the 419 kingpin known by everyone one in Imo State, now working for Imo State government.

“It is shameful and very unfortunate that a notorious 419 kingpin known by everyone in Imo State can be brought into a government in the state to work as an aide to a Governor who claims to be a decent man”