IPOB Dumps “Emma Powerful,” Disowns Fake Sit-at-Home Order
"All press statements representing the position of the Indigenous People of Biafra MUST be released on IPOB's official letterheaded page," the organisation stated.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has officially announced the discontinuation of the long-used pseudonym “Emma Powerful” for all its press communications, citing abuse, compromise, and growing security risks tied to its continued use.
In a press statement dated January 31, 2026, and signed by the Head of the Directorate of State (DOS), Mazi Chukwukadibia Ezoziem, IPOB said the decision followed internal reviews aimed at aligning the movement with globally accepted institutional best practices and safeguarding its credibility.
IPOB clarified that “Emma Powerful” was never an individual but an operational name used by the group’s publicity secretary to issue official statements.
Over time, however, the pseudonym became widely exploited by unknown actors who allegedly published false directives and misinformation under its identity.
According to the DOS, this abuse posed serious danger to IPOB’s peaceful self-determination struggle and to public safety across Biafraland.
The statement noted that certain groups and individuals deliberately weaponized the name to spread fear, disrupt peace, and create confusion among residents and visitors in the region.
“The pseudonym Emma Powerful has been abused, misused, and compromised,” the statement declared, stressing that its continued usage now threatens the movement’s integrity and the stability of Ala-Igbo.
As part of its resolutions, IPOB announced that all future press statements representing the organization’s official position will henceforth be released only on IPOB’s official letterheaded paper.
The group emphasized that this move is meant to ensure clarity, authenticity, and accountability in its communications.
Most importantly, IPOB formally ceased using the name “Emma Powerful” in any capacity for future releases. It further warned the public that any statement issued under that pseudonym no longer emanates from IPOB’s leadership and should be completely disregarded.
In a direct response to recent misinformation, the DOS unequivocally stated that IPOB did not authorize any lockdown or sit-at-home order across Biafraland on Monday, February 2, 2026. The leadership described such reports as fabricated and part of a broader attempt to stir unrest and criminal infiltration.
The statement framed these fake directives as calculated efforts by hostile interests to undermine the fragile peace gradually returning to parts of the South-East and to damage IPOB’s longstanding position as a non-violent movement.
By abandoning the compromised pseudonym and restructuring its communication process, IPOB said it is taking decisive steps to block the spread of disinformation and protect the public from manipulation.
The development comes amid growing concerns over fake IPOB-related announcements circulating online, many of which have previously triggered fear, shutdowns, and opportunistic violence.
Observers see the move as a strategic attempt by IPOB to reclaim narrative control, strengthen institutional discipline, and prevent further exploitation of its name by criminals and political actors.
As tensions remain delicate in the region, IPOB urged Biafrans and the wider public to rely only on verified official statements and continue their lawful activities without fear.
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