IPOB Blasts DSS Over Alleged WAEC Kidnap Plot, Says Claims Are Attempt To Distract From Nnamdi Kanu’s Appeal

IPOB Blasts DSS Over Alleged WAEC Kidnap Plot, Says Claims Are Attempt To Distract From Nnamdi Kanu’s Appeal

June 11, 2026

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has strongly rejected allegations by the Department of State Services (DSS) that members of its security arm, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), planned to abduct candidates sitting for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in parts of the South-East.

In a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, the separatist group described the claims as a "poorly scripted fabrication" designed to tarnish its image and divert public attention from the ongoing legal battle involving its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The DSS had earlier announced that its operatives, working alongside troops of the Nigerian Army, foiled what it described as a major plot by ESN operatives to kidnap students writing the WAEC examinations in Enugu, Anambra, and Imo states.

According to the security agency, intelligence reports revealed that the planned attacks targeted several schools across the South-East, with suspects allegedly intending to disguise themselves in National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) uniforms to carry out the operation.

The DSS further disclosed that a joint security operation led to the raid of an alleged ESN armoury located in the Agbani area of Enugu State, where weapons and other incriminating materials were reportedly recovered.

However, IPOB dismissed the allegations in their entirety, insisting that the security agencies had manufactured the narrative to undermine growing public interest in Kanu’s appeal and weaken support for the Biafran cause.

Reacting to the DSS announcement, Emma Powerful accused the agency of staging what he described as a theatrical display aimed at misleading Nigerians and the international community.

“This latest concoction, featuring bewildered suspects, including one shamefully paraded in his sleeping gown and pajamas, alongside conveniently displayed weapons, is nothing but a crude theatrical stunt,” the statement read.

According to IPOB, the timing of the allegations was not coincidental but part of a broader strategy to shift focus away from what the group claims are significant developments in Kanu’s legal proceedings.

Powerful argued that Kanu’s appeal and the legal arguments contained in his appellate brief were causing discomfort within government circles, prompting what he described as desperate attempts to change the public conversation.

The group further alleged that recent speculations suggesting that Kanu could face the death penalty were part of an intimidation campaign designed to pressure the IPOB leader.

“Just last week, they flew the kite of a death sentence, hoping our leader would buckle. Instead, he responded with a devastating legal brief exposing constitutional violations, jurisdictional defects, and procedural irregularities surrounding his trial,” IPOB claimed.

The pro-Biafra organisation urged Nigerians, international observers, and human rights groups to focus attention on the legal issues surrounding Kanu’s case rather than what it described as government-sponsored propaganda.

“We urge the international community, human rights bodies, and all people of conscience to reject this propaganda and focus on the ironclad evidence of jurisdictional nullities, fair hearing violations, and procedural illegalities detailed in Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's Appellant's Brief, a document now causing sleepless nights in the corridors of power,” the statement added.

IPOB also reaffirmed its longstanding demand for a referendum that would allow people of the South-East to determine their political future, maintaining that the agitation for self-determination remains legitimate and non-negotiable.

Reiterating its position, the group declared that attempts to suppress the movement through arrests, prosecutions, or media campaigns would not weaken its resolve.

“The Biafran spirit is unbreakable. Every fabrication strengthens our fire. Every distraction accelerates our victory. Referendum or Nothing,” IPOB stated.

The exchange marks the latest chapter in the prolonged standoff between Nigerian security agencies and the pro-Biafra movement, which has remained a major security and political issue in the South-East region.

While security agencies continue to accuse IPOB and the ESN of involvement in violent activities across the region, the group has consistently denied the allegations, insisting that it remains committed to its campaign for self-determination through lawful means.

As the controversy unfolds, attention is expected to remain focused on both the security situation in the South-East and the legal proceedings involving Nnamdi Kanu, whose case continues to attract national and international scrutiny.