Police parade 33 suspected IPOB members in Anambra

Police on Sunday said they arrested 33 people persons suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who clashed with the force in Anambra on Friday.

DCP Jimoh Moshood, Force Public Relations Officers, who spoke with newsmen in Awka, said those arrested were allegedly responsible for the killing of a police inspector and inflicting injury on a divisional police officer.

He said the people also injured other police personnel, setting ablaze a police patrol vehicle in Nnewi, Anambra, on Nov. 23

The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that 20 of the suspects were from Anambra, two from Abia, three from Imo, two from Ebonyi, three from Enugu, one from Delta and two from an unknown state.

Moshood said that the arrested members were suspected IPOB members.

He said they allegedly committed the crime under the terrorism prevention amendment act 2013, adding that exhibits recovered from them included eight motorcycles, five IPOB Flags and five IPOB Caps.

According to the Police, IPOB is a proscribed terrorist group and all activities of the group are therefore unlawful, illegal and terrorist act.

“The 33 suspected IPOB members were arrested for the killing of the Police Inspector, inflicting injury on others and setting ablaze a Police patrol vehicle are now in police custody, they are undergoing investigation.

“The Inspector General of Police has directed the Commissioner of Police, Anambra to carry out intense search operations for the recovery of the two AK47 rifles.

“They are also to recover one Beretta Pistol with the ammunition snatched from the slain Police Inspector and other Police Officers wounded by the proscribed IPOB members.

“They will all be arraigned in Court on completion of investigation under Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act 2013,” he said.

IPOB, through its Media and Publicity Secretary, Mr Emma Powerful in swift reaction, says none of their members was in Police net.

Mr Sunday Ilonze, one of the suspects, said he was arrested in his shop.

“I was in my shop in new motor spare parts when some police men said I should come out and join the vehicle.

“I don’t know what happened, I am an innocent businessman, and they arrested me.

I am a preacher and I can’t lie, they are just intimidating us, I am a good citizen and cannot run,” he said.

Also, Mr innocent Okoroafor said he just returned from the burial of a Rev. Father in Nnewi when he was hounded alongside his apprentice.

Okoroafor, who said he was the chairman of St Michael’s Catholic choir, added he was arrested while trying to close his business for the day.