Police confirm officer killed, 33 IPOB members arrested, to be prosecuted for murder

AT least two persons, a police officer and a member of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, has been confirmed dead after a clash between the police and suspected members of the pro-Biafra group, IPOB, in Nnewi, the commercial city of Anambra State on Friday, the police have said.

The police also announced that at least 33 suspected members of the proscribed group have been arrested by security officials.

The Police Public Relation officer PPRO, Force Headquarters Abuja, DCP Jimoh Moshood, who stated these, also said suspected members of IPOB, arrested, will be prosecuted for murder, arson and other related crimes according to the law.

Mr Moshood disclosed this during a press briefing and parade of thirty-three suspected members of IPOB at the Police command headquarters Awka, the Anambra State on Sunday.

He said following the prescription of IPOB by the Federal government of Nigeria and its declaration as a terrorist group by the Nigerian Army, anybody found with Biafran materials and unlawful gathering would be arrested and prosecuted.

 

                      ALSO READ: Biafra: IPOB raises alarm over alleged FG’s move to re-arrest Nnamdi Kanu

He said that they would be prosecuted under the anti-terrorism prevention Act 2013 to ensure they were properly dealt with.

Mr Moshood, echoing what the army had earlier said, stressed that IPOB by their action had shown itself to be a terrorist group which must be dealt with.

He said that on 23rd November 2018 during a clash between the police and suspected members of IPOB, that lead to the death of a police Inspector, setting ablaze of police patrol team vehicle, snatching of AK47 Rifles and one Beretta Pistol with ammunition and injury of other two personnel.

He mentions the suspects to include; Uche Amos 65B years, Eliza China 23years, Abuchi Obeta 19 years, Ezieokwu Ernest 17 years, among others. And exhibits recovered from them are five IPOB flags, five IPOB caps and eight motorcycles.

He disclosed further that the thirty-three (33) suspects (IPOB members) arrested for the killing of the Police Inspector, inflicting injury on others and setting ablaze a Police patrol vehicle are now in police custody and undergoing investigation. And that the Inspector General of Police Mr Ibrahim Idris has directed the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State to carry out intense search operations for the recovery of the two (2) AK47 rifles and one Beretta Pistol with the ammunition snatched from the slain Police Inspector and other Police Officers wounded by the proscribed IPOB members, and should also immediately carry out an operation to rout-out and arrest other fleeing suspects (proscribed IPOB members) who participated in the ambush of the Police personnel and bring them to justice.

According to him, the Nigeria Police Force is deeply concerned with the security implications with regards to the renewed hostilities from the prescribed/unlawful Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Anambra State and the new trend of subversive propaganda from the proscribed IPOB members aimed at undermining law and order in the affected State by the group, their associates, sponsors, apologists and sympathisers. The Force, therefore, will not tolerate this and will do everything within the ambit of the law to protect the people, ensure that law and order prevail and bring any perpetrator of violence and mayhem on the people or Police personnel to justice, he added.

The Force will continue to ensure adequate safety of lives and property of all Nigerians across the Country based on international core values and best practices and operate within the Principles of Democratic Policing, but will not succumb or tolerate criminal activities from any group(s) under any guise to cause disturbance of public peace and unleash mayhem on innocent Nigerians anywhere in the country.

The thirty-three (33) suspects arrested are now in Police custody and there will be charged to court after completion of the investigation, he concluded.

However, the suspects denied involvement as well as being members of IPOB, saying there are traders and artists who were illegally arrested in their shops in Nnewi during business hours.

Two of the suspects, Evangelist Sunday Uromze and Mr Vincent Okorafor who were allowed to narrate what transpires on behalf others suspects on that day says, “on that day, at about 4:30 pm some policemen and army came to my shop and order me to come out of shop but as a preacher and a law-abiding citizen l obey them but to my surprise l was pushed to the police vehicle, which till this movement l could not understand my self, he weeps.

He called on President Muhammadu Buhari, South east governors, Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo and other relevant authorities to come to their help because there are innocent of the accusation.