News

IPOB Disowns Kanu’s Disciple, Says ‘He’s Not Our Member’

Published

3 years ago

March 26, 2022

Editor

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Saturday, distanced itself from Simon Ekpa, a self-acclaimed disciple of Nnamdi Kanu.

IPOB said Ekpa and his auto-pilot group were not members of the separatist group.

Emma Powerful, spokesman of IPOB, charged Ekpa to stop using the group and the Eastern Security Network, ESN, to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

A statement by Powerful said Ekpa should distance himself from the IPOB as he had failed to abide by the group’s ideals.

The statement reads: “We, the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the command and leadership of our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wishes to disassociate our noble movement from the ignoble and criminal activities of Simon Ekpa and his autopilot group.

“IPOB has been existing long before Simon Ekpa and autopilot group came on board. Simon Ekpa and his group are neither part of IPOB worldwide family neither do they subscribe to our operational methodology and people should therefore stop associating them with the revered IPOB under the command of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“Henceforth, they and the general public are put on notice to desist from using the name of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, ESN and IPOB to defraud the unsuspecting public or for any of their activities. Ekpa and his group should stop their attempt to ridicule and debase the institutions our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu sacrificed all to establish.

“We want to place it on record that Simon Ekpa is not, and has never been a member of IPOB. Since he does not want to abide by the ideals of IPOB, he should form his own group and pursue Biafra freedom the way he is convinced and stop attaching himself to the cherished name of IPOB.”

IPOB cautioned that Ekpa would soon be abandoned by those politicians sponsoring him to demonize ESN and Kanu.

“Simon Ekpa should know that the politicians sponsoring him and his group to demonise IPOB, ESN and Nnamdi Kanu will soon abandon him and his sinister activities.

“We want his family, friends and associates who know him to advise him to leave IPOB out of his activities. Simon Ekpa, auto-pilot and Umuada highways in America should stop their attempt to tarnish the hallowed name of IPOB and its security arm the ESN established by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to liberate our people from the bondage of Fulani terrorists nation called Nigeria.

“The purported Nollywood classroom unveiling of what was termed M.Branch was a folly taken too far which simply revealed the motive and the aganda of Simon Ekpa and his sponsors. The general public should stop associating IPOB with such Nollywood movies. We are confronted with very serious existential threat and can not for any reason turn this noble cause of freedom and liberty of the Indigenous people of Biafra into a circus. Please the public and the mainstream media should be properly guided.

“These self-aclaimed auto-pilots without aeroplanes should desist from creating the impression that thay are part of this noble family led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu because they are not.

“We are calling on European Union and the world to take note of anyone trying to use the name of IPOB to instigate crisis in our land.

“We want to clarify that M-Branch which these dissidents are claiming to be forming in a room somewhere, was commissioned by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu many years ago before launching ESN. IPOB’s M-Branch personnel do not have uniform. M -BRANCH is the IPOB international secret service . They are not in uniform Just as secret service people anywhere are not uniformed men. So, anybody claiming to be forming M-Branch with uniform is on his own.

“M-BRANCH is a secret service in the ESN STRUCTURE created by MNK. No one has seen them before. They have no uniform and very few people actually know about their operations. So, ask yourself why would anyone claim he has publicly launched an inteligence Unit in IPOB if such a person is not working sinisterly for a pay master in the pursuit of an evil agenda?

“People should be properly guided and not allow themselves to be scammed. A word is enough for the wise.”

News

Idahosa Optimistic Shaibu Will Perform As National Sports Institute DG

Published

3 hours ago

June 22, 2025

Editor

The Edo State deputy governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, has expressed optimism that his predecessor in office, Hon. Philip Shaibu will excel in his new role as Director General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS).

The deputy governor expressed his optimism during the Thanksgiving Mass to celebrate the appointment at St. Paul Catholic Church in Benin on Sunday.

Idahosa, who appreciated President Bola Tinubu for the appointment, said Shaibu will bring to bear on the new job his experience as an astute sports administrator.

“We are indeed grateful for what God has done. We will continue to thank God on his behalf, because, he has served our state.

“Now, God has given him the opportunity to serve the nation. We will continue to pray for him for a successful tenure,” he stated.

The former deputy governor appreciated Idahosa for according him the honour with his physical attendance at the Thanksgiving Mass.

He assured the state of his readiness to effectively be a good ambassador effectively by working to reposition of the NIS in line with the renwew hope agenda of the President.

“I will try my best to bring the institute back to life. I will ensure that the reason for setting up the NIS is achieved,” he stated.

News

Falana Slams Government Over Failure To Prosecute Suspected Killers In Benue

Published

3 hours ago

June 22, 2025

Editor

Human rights lawyer and senior advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana (SAN), has criticized the Federal and Benue State Governments for consistently failing to prosecute suspects arrested in connection with ongoing violent attacks across Benue State.

In a statement issued under the platform of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), which he chairs, Falana lamented that although hundreds of suspects have been arrested over the years for crimes ranging from illegal possession of firearms to mass killings and kidnapping, most of them are never charged or brought to trial.

The legal luminary’s reaction follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent visit to Benue, during which he directed the Nigeria Police Force to arrest and prosecute all those involved in the latest wave of violence in the state. However, Falana described the president’s order as potentially symbolic, pointing out that previous arrests had not led to convictions or justice for victims.

Falana also berated the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, for alleging that residents of Yelwata community provided shelter for the killers. He described the statement as an attempt to shift blame onto victims instead of addressing the systemic failures of security and governance.

Providing a timeline of law enforcement actions, Falana stated:

On December 30, 2024, the Benue State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hassan Yabanet, announced the arrest of 273 suspects involved in capital crimes, along with the recovery of 20 firearms and 51 rounds of ammunition.

On January 17, 2024, Police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi revealed that an illegal firearms factory had been uncovered in Benue. Two suspects—Friday Aduduakambe and Iorwashima Iornyume—were arrested, and a cache of weapons, including nine locally made pistols and one unfinished AK-47, was seized.

On April 17, 2025, Governor Hyacinth Alia disclosed that three herdsmen were arrested over the killing of 11 people in the Otobi community, Otukpo Local Government Area.

On June 19, 2025, Community Volunteer Guards apprehended three suspected kidnappers at the Otukpo motor park with ransom money collected from their victims.

According to Falana, between January and June 2025 alone, dozens of violent crime suspects have been arrested, including 43 suspected killers in the last 10 days. Despite these arrests, no significant prosecutions have been reported.

“It is undoubtedly clear that the authorities have continued to treat suspected killers in Benue State like sacred cows,” he said. “The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Benue State, Mr. Fidelis Mnyim, must take immediate steps to ensure that justice is served.”

Falana stressed that the right to life, guaranteed under Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution, is meaningless unless the state acts decisively to punish those who violate it.

He warned that unless concrete action is taken, the ongoing culture of impunity will only worsen the bloodshed and erode public trust in the rule of law.

News

Troops Nab 8 Kidnap Suspects, Rescue 2 Victims In Kwara

Published

4 hours ago

June 22, 2025

Editor

Troops of the 22 Armoured Brigade, deployed at the Forward Operation Base (FOB) Patigi, in Kwara have nabbed eight suspected kidnappers and rescued two victims.

This is contained in a statement signed by Lt. Stephen Nwankwo, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations of the Brigade in Ilorin on Sunday.

“Acting on credible intelligence, troops launched a tactical operation on Saturday, targeting a hideout on the outskirts of Latandaji Village in Patigi Local Government Area.

“During the engagement, troops encountered mild resistance, but swiftly subdued the criminals with superior firepower,” he said.

Nwankwo said that the operation led to the rescue of two kidnap victims, identified as Amos Moses and Philip Michael, while eight suspected kidnappers were arrested.

He, however, said that one Mohammed Mohammed sustained gunshot wounds during the exchange of fire and had been taken to hospital for medical attention.

The brigade spokesman said that further operational exploits in the area led to the recovery of two motorcycles and two expended cartridge shells, believed to be used by the suspects.

“All arrested individuals are currently in military custody for preliminary investigation and will be handed over to relevant authorities for prosecution,” Nwankwo said.

He said that the operation underscores the Nigerian Army’s unwavering commitment to ensure safety of lives and property across the country.

“We urge members of the public to continue providing actionable intelligence to security forces in order to dismantle criminal networks.

“The Nigerian Army remains resolute in its mission to safeguard communities and restore lasting peace in all regions of deployment,” he said.