IPOB/ESN Using Doctored Graphics, Video Footages, Spurious Narratives To Malign Us — Nigerian Army

The Nigerian Army (NA) has accused the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) of using doctored graphic images, video footage and spurious narratives in online and social media campaigns to disparage her and bring her to disrepute.

The NA also fingered IPOB and ESN as being behind what it called “malicious disinformation and falsehood” of its personnel being behind “a fictitious case of the kidnapping of a family of 10 in Kaduna State”.

In a statement signed by Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu titled: “IPOB Propaganda Using Pictures of Fake Soldiers Arrested in Lagos, A Product of Desperate Disinformation to Promote Insecurity”, he mentioned one Solomon Okafor of Radio Biafra London as the peddler of the information that has been gaining traction on social media. The Army said the same Okafor “also maliciously alleged that about 87 per cent of NA soldiers are kidnappers and bandits.

The Army spokesman says while the NA would have ignored what it called ” merchant of falsehood”, considering his lack of credibility, “it is however instructive to put the records in proper perspective for the interest of unsuspecting members of the public, whom such misrepresentation could mislead”, General Nwachukwu said.

“It must therefore be clarified that the said report is a creation of IPOB/ESN social media foot soldiers, with intent to malign the NA. The picture bandied around on the social media is a picture of fake soldiers (impostors) who were arrested in Lagos – Ondo states axis by troops of Operation CHECKMATE under 81 Division NA, sometime in April 2022. The operation was widely publicised in both the new and traditional media before handing over the suspects to the Nigeria Police.

“It is also crucial to emphasize that following troops’ successful exploits in unravelling and unmasking IPOB elements who have been masquerading as unknown gunmen and wreaking carnage against Ndigbo in South-East Nigeria, IPOB/ ESN have severally attempted to use doctored graphic images, video footages and spurious narratives in online and social media campaigns to disparage the NA and bring her to disrepute.

General Onyema asked the author and his sponsors to note that no matter the campaign of calumny by IPOB and other fifth columnists, the NA will be undeterred and will remain a cherished national institution that will continue to execute its constitutional mandate of defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nigeria, towards building a united nation.

He urged members of the public to disregard what he described as “mindless and irresponsible propaganda clearly emanating from IPOB, aimed at promoting insecurity in the country”