The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denied killing Chike Akunyili, husband of the late Dora Akunyili, ex-minister of information and communication.
Late Chike Akunyili was killed by unknown gunmen on his way from Onitsha to Umuoji at Afor Nkpor in Idemili North local government area of Anambra State.
According to reports, he had on Tuesday attended a lecture at Sharon Hall, All Saints Cathedral, Onitsha, organized by the University of Nigeria Nsukka Alumni Association (UNAA), Onitsha branch, in honour of his late wife.
Following the gruesome murder, some quarters had pointed suspicion at the outlawed IPOB military wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN).
But speaking on the incident, Emma Powerful, in a statement, on Wednesday, said the group has no issues with Akunyili and does not know him, adding that those behind his murder should stop using the name of the group.
The proscribed group alleged that the killings in Anambra are “pure political assassination”, designed to paint IPOB bad in the face of its supporters.
IPOB said it has not issued any official statement that the Anambra governorship election will not take place, adding that those peddling the rumour are not its members and should be ignored.
“We, the great family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukkwu Kanu, wish to dissociate ourselves from the senseless killing of innocent citizens in Anambra state,” the statement reads.
“We have no hands in the political killings going on in Biafra land. We have, on several occasions, raised the alarm that some cruel politicians are hiding under the cloak of the situation in Biafra land to eliminate their political enemies and blame it on IPOB.
“We don’t know why wicked politicians especially in Imo and Anambra States will choose to slaughter their opponents and turn around and point accusing fingers at IPOB or the operatives of Eastern Security Network (ESN).
“Politicians should leave us alone and settle their scores. No IPOB member or ESN operative is involved in such barbarity. We have no interest in zoo politics. Restoration of Biafra is our mandate!
“We also wish to clarify that IPOB has never issued any official statement that there would be no governorship election in Anambra state.
“Those peddling such rumour are not our members, and should be ignored. Our position on Anambra election will be made public at the right time through our normal channels of information dissemination. Anything to the contrary should be disregarded.
“Members of the public should stop believing social media fake stories purported to have emanated from IPOB. We are an organized movement and we don’t hide our position on any matter.
“Those who killed Dora Akunyili’s husband killed his wife with poison from Fulani because she exposed the death of Yar’adua to Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to take over President of failed Nigeria, they know themselves those conspired to poisoned prof. Dora Akunyili, they’re contesting the governorship election in Anambra state today.”
