SOUTH EAST INSECURITY: IPOB planning to bomb banks, other institutions, Intelligence sources reveal

Although Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, recently shielded from blame the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, a proscribed terrorist group terrorising the South East of Nigeria over “untenable and misdirected excuses”, many more fingers are pointing towards the Nnamdi Kanu-led group as responsible for insecurity in the region.

Latest Information reaching The DEFENDER is that, plots by the terrorist group to bomb banks in the South East region have been uncovered by security agencies.

Recall that Governor Uzodinma, after the deep-down attacks that saw Owerri Correctional Centre and State Police Command Headquarters set on fire while over a thousand inmates were set free, was later exposed by an ex-Director of the Department of State Services, DSS, as failing to heed intelligence report provided him ahead of time.

The governor attempted shield of the terrorist organisation but rather pushing the blame to political opponents in the aftermath of attacks, therefore, put more questions than answers on the lips of many.

An impeccable media source said this time, security services have uncovered plans by the terrorist group to bomb financial institutions, especially banks and business premises and attribute their nefarious activities to government agencies.

According to PRNigeria, it was gathered that at a joint meeting of the security services, including intelligence components, members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, were fingered to be behind the new scheme of bombing.

An intelligence source, the report added, said the intention of the group was to wreak havoc and attribute the deadly action to the security services including the military, the Police and the Department of State Service (DSS).

The source said: “The public is aware of the recent spate of attacks on military and security personnel as well as destructions of their properties perpetrated by criminal secessionist elements in a bid to further their selfish agenda.

“Already the campaigns towards the sinister motives have commenced with their recent statements and action so far.

“Is it not ridiculous and baseless claims by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, that the Department of State Services, DSS, had planned to sponsor attacks on banks in the South East?

“The same IPOB had claimed that attacks would be carried out by DSS operatives under the guise of the Ebubeagu recently floated by the South-East governors rather than the group’s Eastern Security Network, ESN.

“Such allegations should be taken as cheap blackmail, designed by the illegal organisation to distract the public and indeed, the international community from what has become its pattern of violent attacks, retreat and feigning of non-violent dispositions.

“The public was advised to be wary of the antics of IPOB which hides under these methods to wreak havoc on innocent people and targets,” the source said.

Meanwhile, when contacted over the development, the spokesperson of DSS, Peter Afunanya reportedly described the agency as responsible, saying it would continue to work with other sister agencies to maintain law and order protect lives and property.

He called on citizens and corporate bodies to be security conscious and beef up protective measures around them.