The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) yesterday blamed the killings in the Southeast on political thugs.
It also named those it said were behind the acts of violence.
Security agencies have accused IPOB of being behind the killings and mayhem in the region.
But the group, in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, absolved its members of culpability.
It said the armed thugs were still being retained for next year’s elections.
IPOB claimed that at least nine persons were recruited by politicians to execute their election projects.
It, however, did not provide any evidence upon which it concluded that the named politicians were behind the attacks.
The statement reads in part: “Our intelligence unit has uncovered some politicians involved in the recruitment of thugs behind the ongoing madness in Imo State and other parts of Biafra…
“Our people must hold them accountable if anything untoward happens to these communities because they invited soldiers to besiege them.
“These criminals …are political thugs hired to execute their election projects.
“The guns they gave them during the election season have not been retrieved.
“They are now using the same guns to commit so many crimes and blame them on innocent members of IPOB and ESN (Eastern Security Network).
“They started using the AK-47 rifles in killing our people after elections.
“Now the politicians who engaged them are still keeping them against 2023.
“ESN has camps in every part Biafraland. Why then is it in Imo State that senseless killings are going on unabated? Politicians are behind the carnages, not ESN operatives.
“Those who created criminals, political thugs, cultists and unknown gunmen behind the kidnapping, snatching of people’s cars and raping of our mothers, wives and sisters wanted to implicate IPOB and ESN but they have shot themselves in the leg.”
The group faulted calls for the deployment of soldiers in Lilu and Orsumoghu communities in Anambra State.
“We don’t have ESN camps in these communities, including Orsu, Oru West and East of Imo State.
“Those calling for military action in the communities should be ready to take responsibility for any innocent Biafran that will be killed by the blood-thirsty soldiers.
“ESN and IPOB volunteers are not involved in these criminal activities going on in the Southeast region,” IPOB said.