The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has raised an alarm that Nigeria’s Federal Government through its security agencies have continued to arbitrarily arrest its...
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has raised an alarm that Nigeria’s Federal Government through its security agencies have continued to arbitrarily arrest its members on flimsy excuses while restasting that it remains a non violent group. The IPOB position followed the arrest of about 67 of its members by the police in Imo state.
The state Commissioner of Police, Isaac Akinmoyede had announced the arrest of 67 IPOB members including a native doctor following what he termed their ‘unlawful assembly’.
According to Akinmoyede, members of the self determination group were on their way to see the native doctor to fortify them against penetration of bullets on impact when they were arrested at Orji, Owerri North Local Government Area of the state on August 9th.
“It is believed that the group is planning an attack on security agencies with the aim of snatching weapons,” he stated.
“It is also noteworthy that the group attacked and snatched two rifles from Police during a violent protest in 2018, of which the rifles were later recovered from a kidnap gang in a robbery operation.”
He explained that operatives of the 34 Field Artillery Brigade while on duty at Mmahu Egbema Check point, “intercepted Sixty-Seven (67) members of the IPOB at about 09:30hrs, and called for reinforcement from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Egbema.”
He said that the operatives of the Division quickly mobilized to the scene and assisted in the evacuation of the suspects to the Divisional Police Headquarters for further action.
“It will be recalled that this organization (IPOB) has been proscribed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, as such, any such gathering by the group is viewed as unlawful. They will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded”, Akinmoyede said.
He added that the operatives of the Division swiftly mobilized to the scene and assisted in the evacuation of the IPOB members to the Divisional Police Headquarters for further action.
“It will be recalled that this organization (IPOB) has been proscribed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, as such, any such gathering by the group is viewed as unlawful. They will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded”, he noted.
Reacting however, the IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary of the IPOB, Emma Powerful accused the police of painting the image of his members in bad light in order to arrest them, cautioning that IPOB would remain committed to the pursuit of its demands for a Republic of Biafra.
“We are warning Nigeria government and her security agencies to allow IPOB because we are peaceful in all our activities since the formation of this noble movement to liberate our people.
“Nigeria security operatives are deriving joy in arresting and slaughtering of IPOB family members since 2015 while their brothers, the terrorists herdsmen and their Boko Haram counterpart are busy causing mayhem throughout Nigeria without security officers stopping them.
“We are calling on Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State to instruct his country’s security to release our members before it is late. Nigeria government and her army of terrorists have been looking for our trouble and they must get it when we are ready. At the appropriate time they will regret their actions against IPOB members,” he saids.
