The Biafra Nations League, BnL, has disassociated its members from the kidnapping of travelers on Calabar waterways in Cross River State.
Oak Metro reports on Wednesday that at least 17 travellers, including a boat driver, were kidnapped by pirates who local media said were suspected members of the BnL.
Members of the separatist group do not involve themselves in kidnapping and terrorizing peaceful civilians, said Ebuta Takon, the BnL deputy leader.
According to Takon, those involved in the kidnapping are pirates who took advantage of BnL threat to disrupt Nigerian and Cameroonian international trade at sea.
The group urged the mede not to link the incident to the activities of its members, saying its target was not civilians, but to compel the Nigerian government to release all detained Biafran activists and hold a referendum for an independent state known as Biafra.