Police nail IPOB as killers of Ahmed Gulak

• Count us out, says IPOB

The police in Imo State have said killers of Ahmed Gulak, a former political adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, are members of the secessionist group, IPOB, and its security arm, ESN.

Gulak was shot dead in Owerri, Imo State, on Sunday morning, while on his way to Sam Mbakwe Airport for his flight.

The police in a statement issued on Sunday night said Gulak’s killers were traced to their location within Imo on Sunday where they were shot dead during a gun battle with police operatives.

The police spokesperson in Imo, Bala Elkana, said in the statement, “The six hoodlums who carried out the killings and four other members of their gang were fatally injured.

“The assailants were identified as members of the proscribed IPOB and ESN.”

He added, “The driver who drove late Ahmed Gulak and a co-victim who survived have all identified the dead body of the IPOB/ESM members positively as their attackers and also identified the three vehicles recovered as those used by the attackers.”

The police said three AK 47 rifles, one pistol, five AK-47 magazines with 92 rounds of live ammunition and charms were recovered from the suspects.

But IPOB said it did not kill Gulak, stressing that he was not a threat to the Biafra agitation and stressed the group was not a terrorist network, so had no reason to assassinate the ex-Presidential aide.

Reacting on Sunday, the Nnamdi Kanu-led Biafra secessionist group said, “The attention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been drawn to the untenable allegation by the security agencies that IPOB was responsible for the assassination of former presidential aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak on his way to Sam Mbakwe Airport Owerri Imo State.

“We therefore state without equivocation that IPOB knows nothing about the said assassination. In the first place, what threat did the late Gulak constitute to our cause to warrant his elimination? We had nothing in common with him and could not have in any way killed him.

“Pointing accusing fingers at IPOB for this barbaric act is only meant to divert attention away from the real masterminds. This is the same way terrorists in security uniform commit various atrocities in South-East and turn around to blame IPOB for their crimes just to tarnish our global reputation.

“This is purely a smokescreen to justify their long awaited plan to declare another special military operation in the Eastern region to kill more innocent Biafrans.”

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has described the killing of the chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Gulak, as heinous.

The President in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, vowed to use all resources at his disposal to ensure Gulak’s killers are brought to justice.

The statement read, “President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed outrage and disgust over what he called ‘the heinous murder’ of Adamawa politician Ahmed Gulak in Owerri, Imo State by yet to be identified gunmen.

“Reacting to the development on Sunday, the President said: “I’m repulsed by such premeditated and gruesome murder of Gulak by evil people who are determined to undermine the peace, unity and territorial integrity of our country.

“Let me warn however that nobody or group of people who engages in such despicable acts should expect to go free. We will deploy all resources at our disposal to ensure that such callous and criminal elements are brought to justice.

“Finally, President Buhari expressed his “deep condolences to the family of the deceased, the people and government of Adamawa State as well as his friends and associates all over the country.”