Secessionist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Monday, denied that the group played a role in the alleged hijacking of a merchant ship.

The group also accused the All Progressive Congress of plotting to continue the detention of the group’s leader, Nnamdi Kanu, and other members of the movement, who were arrested.

This was contained in a statement signed by IPOB’s Media and Publicity officer, Emma Powerful.

The statement accused the federal government of looking for reasons to further detain Kanu, while adding that the government was making baseless accusations by linking them to the hijacking of the ship.

“IPOB has uncovered another plan to continue to incarcerate our leader, Mr Nnamdi Kanu, and other detained IPOB members. The recent plot last week linked IPOB and other Biafra agitating groups to the alleged seizure and threat to blow up a merchant ship which the military has denied. This has made nonsense of the Buhari-led APC government allegation against IPOB as a lie and one coming from a deceitful and dishonest government.

“We found that accusation an insult and a plot to continue to incarcerate our leader Mr. Kanu who is still in high spirit, inspite of the wicked treatment, intimidation, harassment and denials to damper his spirit. We wonder why the government of APC will busy it self in hatching plans to nail innocent agitators.

“This shows the inconsistency for which the APC and its government is known for or why will anybody, group or government be linking IPOB with seizure of ship in another country? Are we living in the water, or do we carry arms? How can a government that claims to have saints in it be likening IPOB with hijacking of ship?.”

“It is shameful that a government that claims to be responsible should be involved in the highest level of indiscipline of disobeying court orders. We are not surprised because this is a government of the people that threatened to make Nigeria ungovernable when they lost election, and also threatened that baboons and their brothers will soak in blood if they did not win election. So, how can they respect the law now that they are in power? They have become so power-drunk and it will destroy them and their government.

“IPOB does not carry arms. Our leader is a refined, never say die, relentless, determined, focused, and unrepentant Biafra activist that is not interested in any government threat or inducement to drop the agitation of sovereign state of Biafra and no amount of blackmail will discourage him.”

Similarly, another secessionist group Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) had on Wednesday, 3rd February denied any involvement in the said ship hijacking.

Mazi Emeka