The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has warned "compromised media houses in Nigeria" to stop the deliberate and reckless publication of fabricated lies against IPOB anytime its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is scheduled to appear in court.

IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful, in a statement, said the organisation was aware of a clear and consistent pattern of malicious media assault by Nigerian state-sponsored media operatives publishing unverified, government-manufactured falsehoods.

"In the latest disgrace to journalism, Punch ran a headline alleging that 'suspected IPOB fighters' killed a soldier who was supposedly 'absent without leave' and had 'sneaked out to attend a party.' This isn’t news. It is gutter trash, pure and simple—baseless, unsourced, and fit only for the sewage drain where Punch’s editorial standards now reside," Powerful said.

He said the publication was carefully timed—as always—to pollute public perception and taint judicial neutrality ahead of Kanu’s court appearance on May 21 before Justice James Omotosho.

He said the clear motive is to influence public opinion and pressure the judiciary with engineered public hostility.

"But let it be known: no amount of media filth from Punch or any other brown-envelope media outlet will deter IPOB or silence the truth.

"In the past, it was phantom 'IPOB camps' being raided. Now it’s imaginary killings by IPOB members that no one can verify, with no names, no locations, no investigation—just lazy, fictional journalism intended to curry favour with a failed regime. This is not reporting. This is state propaganda wearing the mask of journalism.

"Punch Newspaper has exposed itself as nothing more than a propaganda arm of a government that thrives on lies and ethnic bigotry. While they cowardly avoid criticising Yoruba Nation agitators or Fulani banditry ravaging their own land, they seem permanently obsessed with demonising IPOB and Biafrans. We say to them: this idiocy must stop.

"We challenge Punch to name the soldier. Provide evidence. Show proof. If you cannot, retract your story or wear the shame of being nothing more than a discredited pamphlet factory for a dying regime. IPOB is not a terrorist group. We are a peaceful, lawful, and resolute movement fighting for our people’s freedom from a corrupt and oppressive Nigerian state.

"From now on, let every compromised journalist and media house know: IPOB will not sit back while you vomit trash in the name of news. Punch Newspaper has crossed the line and we are putting you on notice," the IPOB spokesperson said.

ASA