The Department of State Services has raised the alarm that the Indigenous People of Biafra’s Eastern Security Network is plotting to wreak havoc on public infrastructure and destabilise Imo State by detonating bombs and explosives.
According to the secret police, IPOB’s plot was revealed by intelligence report noting that the explosives were being moved in articulated trucks from Lagos to a hideout in Orlu, Imo State.
The DSS stated this in a letter to the Brigade Commander, 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, Owerri, Imo State.
The DSS letter with reference number, S.238/5/1538 dated April 26, 2021, was signed by I. Abdullah on behalf of the Imo State DSS Director.
It was titled, ‘Movement of explosive devices into the state by IPOB/ESN’.’
The letter read, “Intelligence revealed that the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra/Eastern Security Network has acquired bombs and Improvised Explosive Devices with which to further their subversive activities.
“It was reliably gathered that the newly acquired items are currently being conveyed from Lagos to an unconfirmed location in Orlu Local Government Area.
“The items are being concealed in articulated/heavy duty vehicles to beat security checks along the road. It was further revealed that the group intends to deploy the explosives in their planned attacks on security/government installations across the state.”
The DSS, therefore, advised the Brigade commander to ensure that deployed security personnel carried out thorough search on trucks coming to the state.
Reacting to the allegation, the proscribed secessionist group refuted the allegation that it’s moving arms and ammunition to Imo State to destabilise it.
It stressed that there was no iota of truth in the “allegation coming from the Zoo agent” called Department of States Security, adding that anybody or institution was free to say whatever they liked about IPOB.
The group’s Director of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, stated this in an interview with newsmen yesterday.
“What the DSS is saying is a huge lie. There is no iota of truth in what that Federal Government-sponsored Zoo and Caliphate agent is saying. Now, did you listen to my interview with Channels Televisions, two days ago?
“It’s just like the question the Channels Television guy asked. He asked me, ‘Who is sponsoring IPOB?’ I told him there was no single individual sponsoring IPOB. IPOB is a very gigantic movement.
“There is no truth in that allegation. Where are we moving the arms to and from where? I don’t think it is wise to continue to reply whatever this Zoo people accuse us of,” Powerful told Punch.
This allegation is coming days after a joint team of Nigerian security operatives killed IPOB’s commander Ikonso was killed.
The secessionist group had threatened to avenge its commander’s death warning governor Hope Uzodinma that he would pay dearly for the death of Ikonso.
IPOB said Uzodinma had stirred the hornet’s nest and he would be stung.
The DSS had weeks ago alerted the public that IPOB was planning to attack banks in order to steal money for the procurement of arms and ammunition in pursuit of its secessionist agenda.
But the group denied the allegation saying that it produced its weapon locally.
