IPOB DEMANDS EVIDENCE OR PUBLIC APOLOGY FROM SENATOR ORJI UZOR KALU

IPOB’S CHALLENGE TO ORJI UZOR KALU

According to the statement, Senator Kalu must provide:

Names of the alleged victims
Their communities
Dates of each alleged incident
Circumstances of the claimed deaths

IPOB stated that if the Senator is unable to provide credible evidence, he must publicly apologise to:

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu
The IPOB movement
The people of the South-East

within 48 hours.

“THE VIOLENCE IN THE SOUTH-EAST BEGAN WHILE KANU WAS IN DETENTION”

IPOB insisted that the insecurity in the region escalated after its leader had already been held in prolonged DSS detention, where he had no access to communication with the public.

The statement questioned how a man isolated for more than a year could be responsible for actions carried out by unidentified armed groups, political operatives, and external actors.

SIT-AT-HOME: IPOB REITERATES ITS OFFICIAL POSITION

IPOB restated that:

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu never authorised any sit-at-home order.
When the idea was hijacked by criminal elements, he issued a handwritten instruction cancelling it.
IPOB publicly and consistently enforced that cancellation.

The statement accused political actors of exploiting insecurity for personal gain while ignoring IPOB’s repeated clarifications.

OPERATION PYTHON DANCE AND THE 2017 MILITARY RAID

IPOB also referenced past incidents, including:

The launch of Operation Python Dance I & II by the Nigerian Army.
The September 14, 2017 military invasion of Afaraukwu, Umuahia, which resulted in the deaths of unarmed civilians.
The subsequent death of Mazi Kanu’s parents following the trauma of the invasion.

The group questioned Senator Kalu’s silence during that period and criticised what it described as selective outrage.

“IPOB IS NOT THE SOURCE OF VIOLENCE — WE ARE THE PRIMARY VICTIMS”

The statement said the organisation rejects attempts to link IPOB with crimes committed by armed groups whose operations, methods and motives differ entirely from the movement’s publicly-stated principles.

IPOB noted that security challenges in the South-East have been worsened by:

Politically-sponsored actors
Criminal groups impersonating IPOB
The vacuum created by excessive militarisation of communities

The movement accused certain politicians of distorting facts to diminish the popularity and legitimacy of the IPOB struggle.

FINAL DEMAND

IPOB concluded:

“Senator Orji Uzor Kalu must either provide verifiable evidence supporting his allegation or publicly apologise within 48 hours. The world is watching.”