Biafra: IPOB faults FG over continued detention of members, wants them released

THE Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has condemned in its entirety the renewed harassment, arrest and illegal detention of its members in different prisons and secret cells across the country.

In a statement signed by the Media and Publicity Secretary of the pro-Biafra group, Emma Powerful, and made available to Tribune Online in Enugu on Monday, stated that IPOB leadership is worried over the alleged “illegal detention of Bright Chimezie Ishinwa in DSS secret cell without traces, those in Igweocha (Port Harcourt) prisons and those in the state CID headquarters Igweocha languishing”

Mr Powerful noted, “Nevertheless, we expect the Nigerian government and her security agencies to do the needful either to release them on bail or charge them to court without further delay if they are still alive in their custody.”

The IPOB Spokesman said, “The Federal High court sitting in Abuja on February 6, 2017 declared IPOB as a legal organisation, but the Nigerian Police and other security agencies who do not know the law are busy breaking the law by continuing targeting the peaceful members of IPOB.”

According to him, “On April 15, 2017, the DPO of Umuebulu police station (Superintendent of Police) SP Mary Iheanacho, ordered the kidnap of IPOB members who were doing ‘evangelism’ for the restoration of ancient nation of Biafra in Umuebulu 1 Etche in Etche Local Government Area of River State.”

“The peaceful evangelism of IPOB family members were held on April 2, 2017 and there was no arrest or kidnap until April 15, 2017, the DPO ordered for the kidnap of the IPOB members in the community.”

“The IPOB members in the community searched for the members who were kidnapped and could only locate one Mr Victor Ogiebe under the custody of SP Iheanacho while others were not seen since five days now.

“Therefore, we are calling on international community the European Union (EU), African Union (AU), all the relevant Human Rights Organisations, men and women of good conscience around the globe to prevail upon the Nigeria government and her security agencies to stop harassing, intimidating IPOB members and release those who has been detained illegally in different prisons and secret cells across the country because they didn’t commit crime against Nigeria state or humanity.”