Former Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha and current governor Hope Uzodimma have been accused by the Indigenous People of Biafra of sponsoring insecurity in the state.
On Saturday, Emma Powerful, the group's Media and Publicity Secretary, issued a statement to that effect.
Politicians, according to the group, were behind the recruitment and arming of the hoodlums the region.
"We, the great family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra, under the command and leadership of our Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to draw the world's attention to the fact that, based on the unfolding security issues in Imo State, it has become very clear that Governor Hope Uzodinma and his predecessor Rochas Okorocha, are the sponsors of the so-called unknown gunmen perpetrating insecurity in Imo State for some time now," the statement read
"We have always explained that mystery gunmen were created by self-serving and unscrupulous politicians embroiled in political conflict, but many people did not believe us." In their eagerness to depose Emeka Ihedioha, Uzodinma and Okorocha formed an alliance, and they did a lot of strange things to attain that selfish goal.
"Shortly after, they disintegrated and turned to various terrible plots to outsmart each other, including but not limited to hiring and equipping hoodlums."
"Their calculation was to blame IPOB and Eastern Security Network operators for their nasty guys' malicious acts, an erroneous narrative that many naive minds had previously embraced." Many people did not believe politicians were behind the insecurity and operations of unknown gunmen in Imo State and other areas of Biafra territory until the abduction of Okorocha's son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, in the church by Uzodinma's hitmen.
"Imo youths, men and women of good conscience must prepare to hold Hope Uzodinma, Rochas Okorocha, and Uche Nwosu responsible for bringing grief and suffering to the state of Imo." We've been here for a long time, and now we must prepare to question these crooks and their accomplices about the whereabouts of numerous missing Imo teenagers.
"They must ready to account for all the innocent promising kids slaughtered in Imo State by unknown gunmen and cops." Everyone was pointing accusing fingers at ESN and IPOB at the height of this barbarism, but we know we had nothing to do with it.
"God recently exposed them because IPOB prayed to the Almighty to reveal those responsible for the countless attacks and killings, primarily the two traditional rulers assassinated by these hoodlums operating in the region," he said.
"These vampires manufactured those who murdered Dr. Chike Akunyili and reported it to ESN, despite the fact that ESN operatives had no problem with the late Dr. Chike Akunyili."
"It is now evident and open to everyone that Hope Uzodinma and Rochas Okorocha were behind the countless deaths in the region. What did Imo residents do to anger them enough to justify the bloodletting?
"To implicate ESN and IPOB volunteers, Hope Uzodinma produced his own unknown gunmen, while Rochas Okorocha and Uche Nwosu fabricated their own to demonise Hope Uzodinma." Unfortunately, it has been innocent inhabitants and youngsters of the state who have been targeted. These vampires must not be allowed to roam free."
"The Inspector-General of Police should be capable of handling the situation with professionalism and responsibility. All of these perplexing discoveries from these odd bedfellows should be thoroughly investigated by him. It is now apparent that these thugs were the ones who murdered Alhaji Gulark Ahmed seven months ago on Imo Airport Road.
"Without conducting any inquiry, they swiftly accused ESN for their heinous behaviour." Although we denied any connection, many people did not trust us. We have been vindicated today.
"Once again, the IGP should examine and question Shaba, the police officer in charge of Uzodinma's attack men at Government House in Owerri."
"Why should a member of the governor's police force lead men on a shooting spree or arrest in a church or other place of worship?" Because of the sound of gunshots in the church by these vampires in security uniform, many men and women who attended church on that day now have high blood pressure.
"How could someone be arrested in a place of worship and the Imo State Police Command be completely unaware of it?" Why did the governor's security team go on such an unusual mission? Their motivation needs to be looked into properly.