‘We don’t kill, let alone a priest’ – IPOB, absolves members of killing Anglican cleric in Imo

[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]

Leadership of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has exonerated members of the group in the murder of an Anglican priest in Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo State.

It would be recalled that unidentified gunmen killed the priest-in-charge of St Andrew’s Anglican Church, Ihitte-Ukwa in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State, Rev. Emeka Merenu, Tuesday morning.

The priest was serving under the Anglican Diocese of Orlu, was hacked to death in his personage, Tuesday morning.

The priest has reportedly been having a running battle with members of the ESN/IPOB, who accused him of bringing soldiers to secure the church and school under his supervision.

He was alleged to have sought security from soldiers for students in school writing the West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate.

The deceased priest is a native of Amaorji in Nkwerre in the Nkwerre Local Government Area of the state.

His vehicle was not spared, as the hoodlums set it ablaze before fleeing thereafter.

Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Micheal Abattam, who confirmed the murder said investigation had commenced with the intention to arresting the suspects.

However, IPOB in a statement by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, Thursday, described the killing as barbaric, adding that anyone pointing accusing fingers at IPOB for such dastardly act was only doing so to demonise it.

The statement emphasized that IPOB was a responsible organization that had respect for the sanctity of human lives and, therefore, had no hands whatsoever in such killings.

“We don’t kill, let alone a priest. It is not part of our mandate. It makes no sense to associate IPOB which is a peaceful movement with such carnivorous behaviour.

“It will be unfair for people to finger IPOB for crimes committed by government hoodlums most times sponsored by security agencies and enemies to portray us in the bad light,” the statement said.

The group further reiterated that it had since suspended Monday’s sit-at-home, saying,  “some miscreants living in Europe and claiming what they are not, sponsored by overzealous politicians to destroy Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB are working with the security agencies to ensure that they succeed torturing innocent Biafrans in the name of enforcing a non-existent sit-at-home”.

The group also disclosed that it had set up a taskforce to deal with such hooligans, even as he denied  there was no crack in the fold of IPOB.

“There is no sit at home order again this week until the day our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will appear in court and our people must disregard any statement that is not from our media and publicity secretary Emma Powerful. our intention is different from those agents making statements on IPOB order but they will soon regret their actions.

“IPOB is not going to order sit at home on Friday again because our people have suffered a lot but agent of darkness living in Europe thinks he can succeed but it’s little time he will realize that we are smarter and intelligent than him.

“Our people should go about their normal business on Friday there is no more sitting at home order from IPOB”.

IPOB further accused the Federal and Imo State governments of sponsoring miscreants to demonise IPOB and ESN so as to create the impression in the minds of gullible people that IPOB was killing their people, just to sow the seed of enmity between us and the masses.

“Their plan is to ultimately reduce the teeming support of Biafrans for Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB,” the statement further added.