The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has fingered governorship candidates in Anambra State governorship election as masterminds of the murder of Dr Chike Akunyili, husband of the former director general of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), late Prof Dora Akunyili.
Spokesman for the group, Mr. Emma Powerful, said in a statement on Wednesday that “this is pure political assassination going on in Anambra State.”
Akunyili, a medical doctor, was said to have been killed on Tuesday, September 28 at Nkpor Junction in Idemili North local government area of the state.
He was said to have been on his way from Onitsha to Umuoji.
He was said to have been killed alongside his driver and police escort.
It was learnt that the deceased had that day attended a lecture at Sharon Hall, All Saints Cathedral, Onitsha, organised by the University of Nigeria Nsukka Alumni Association (UNAA), Onitsha branch, in honour of his late wife, Dora.
“He spoke glowingly about Dora his wife, and made a donation of N500, 000 to the association.
“He was there with his son, Obum, who now works with Anambra State government. We saw them off to the car and it was emotional when Obum hugged him (Chike) tight as both of them separated to join their respective vehicles.
“Obum was in a white Hilux, while the man was in a Prado Jeep. He must have been killed when returning from the function,” said a source.
Reacting to the incident, spokesman for IPOB, Mr. Emma Powerful, dissociated the group from the killing and alleged that the killers “are the ones contesting governorship election in Anambra State today.”
He also alleged that they were the same people who killed Dora and vowed that IPOB would arrest and deal decisively with those committing atrocities in the southeast region.
“We the great family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)…wish to dissociate ourselves from the senseless killing of innocent citizens in Anambra State.
“We have no hands in the political killings going on. We have severally raised the alarm that some cruel politicians are hiding under the cloak of the situation in Biafra land to eliminate their political enemies and blame it on IPOB.
“We don’t know why wicked politicians especially in Imo and Anambra States will choose to slaughter their opponents and turn around and point accusing fingers at IPOB or the operatives of Eastern Security Network ESN. Politicians should leave us alone and settle their scores. No IPOB member or ESN operative is involved in such barbarity. We have no interest in their politics. Restoration of Biafra is our mandate!
“We also wish to clarify that IPOB has never issued any official statement that there would be no governorship election in Anambra State.
“Those peddling such rumour are not our members, and should be ignored. Our position on Anambra election will be made public at the right time through our normal channels of information dissemination. Anything contrary should be disregarded. Members of the public should stop believing social media fake stories purported to have emanated from IPOB. We are an organized movement and we don’t hide our position on any matter.
“Those who killed Dora Akunyili’s husband were the same people that killed Dora. They are the ones contesting governorship election in Anambra State today.
“We have no issues with Chike Akunyili and we did not kill him, those behind this act must stop this and stop using IPOB’s name. We don’t want anybody to blame IPOB because we must get them; this is pure political assassination going on in Anambra State. Agents are doing this to paint IPOB black in the face of support and encouragement we are getting from our people.
“We know their plans and gimmick to discourage Biafrans who are encouraging and supporting us but it can’t work for them.
“In the near future those committing these atrocities in Imo and Anambra States will hear from IPOB and our people should not blame us because we must get them.
“Had IPOB issued a statement regarding Anambra election, by now traitors would have been ranting that it was IPOB that killed APGA and APC members at Nnobi junction last week.
“It is obvious that those that burnt Anambra Government House and other parts of the state some years ago are back to use intimidations and killings to subdue their opponents ahead of the governorship election in Anambra State,” he said in a statement.
