Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist movement organisation, has confirmed setting up vigilance group, Biafra Security Service, BSS.

It debunked insinuations that BSS is a standing army, but stressed that what it established is a vigilance group.

The group would only gather intelligence and ensure that criminal elements do not compromise the safety and welfare of people residing in Biafra land.

Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Mr Emma Powerful, said the group would not be militarised as erroneously construed in certain quarters and in various online media reports.

Powerful said that members of the group were naturally peace loving people.

He also dismissed as untrue the story that made the rounds that the leader of the group, Mr Nnamdi Kanu, made uniforms for members of the vigilance group.

He noted that IPOB was interested in the well-being of the people and ready to ensure the safety of its people returning from the North over the October 1 quit notice served on Igbo people in the North by a coalition of Arewa youths.

“Nnamdi Kanu, leader of IPOB, did not sew any uniform for these volunteers erroneously called Biafra soldiers. There is no standing Biafra Army and we emphasize the word NO. We have security volunteers just like you have vigilance groups. IPOB is legitimately concerned about the well being and safety of Biafrans all over the world.

“With October 1, 2017 looming, it has fallen on IPOB to ensure the welfare, safety and well being of Biafrans returning home to prevent what happened in 1966 from happening again. IPOB will not fold its arms and watch Hausa Fulani Janjaweed embark on another orgy of bloodbath directed at southerners living in the North. That’s why BSS was inaugurated to gather intelligence and to safeguard those returning home to Biafraland from the North.

“IPOB is against all forms of lawlessness, from the menace of Fulani herdsmen to kidnapping, armed robbery and cattle rustling. All these vices will be stamped out in the coming months without recourse to armed confrontation.”

Vanguard