The Enugu State Police Command on Monday arrested about 12 people alleged to be members of pro-Biafra group, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, over threat to attack traders who refuse to join its coming protest.
A statement by the Commands spokesperson, SP Ebere Amaraizu, said the suspected IPOB members threatened to deal with any trader who opens for business from Tuesday, today, stressing that all traders must stay indoors in solidarity with the group.
IPOB had announced its plan to carry out a mass protest all over the world against the continued incarceration of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu on September 23 2016.
However, Amaraizu in the statement said, the suspects were apprehended while addressing traders in Ogbete Main Market in the state, adding that upon completion of investigation, they will be charged to court.
The statement reads, “No fewer than twelve suspected members of a group identified as indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) were on 19/9/16 in the afternoon nabbed by the security operatives of the Enugu state police command who acted on intelligence information gathered about the said group in relation to its activity.
“Suspects were nabbed inside the popular ogbete market of Enugu state as they allegedly went into the market with public address to threaten and inflict fears on the members of the public precisely the marketers not to come to market from 20/9/16 and that if anyone is seen that the person will be dealt with by the group. The operatives arrested the suspects as the alleged threat announcement was being carried out.
Amaraizu disclosed that items recovered from the suspects includes, “21 handsets of different types, various leaflets in which some of them reads thus: IPOB FOR THE BETTERMENT OF YOUR CHILDREN AND THAT OF YOURSELF, PLEASE SIT AT HOME ON 23/9/16,THERE WILL BE NO WORK,NO SCHOOL,NO BUSINESS,NO MARKET, FREE NNAMDI KANU, FREE BIAFRA, ALL HAIL BIAFRA.”
Other items recovered include, “flags suspected to be that of the group with their insignia, public address systems, one wireless microphone. Suspects are helping the operatives in their investigations and will soon be charged to court,” Amaraizu said.
The command, however, reiterates its determination to safeguard members of the state, saying anyone caught going against the law, “will be made to face the full wrath of the law.”
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