The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has asked the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Mr Danjuma Aboki, to withdraw an alleged defamatory statement linking it with the recent killings in Mbano, Imo State.

It stated that it would drag the commissioner to court within seven days should he fail to withdraw and issue a public apology over the alleged falsehood.

The commissioner had allegedly accused IPOb of being involved in the killing in Mbano.

However, in a statement released over the weekend, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, described the commissioner’s statement as “a vile attempt to criminalise IPOB and misleading the public.”

Powerful added, “We state categorically that IPOB is not involved in any such violence. Mr. Aboki’s actions are defamatory, inciteful, and malicious. They violate the presumption of innocence and are part of a broader propaganda campaign to derail our peaceful advocacy.

“If he fails to retract these lies within seven days, IPOB will drag him to court and hold him personally liable for reputational damage and criminal defamation under Nigerian law.

“We will not tolerate further slander or scapegoating. The blood of our people must not be used to sanitise failed security operations and political incompetence.”