…Our members are missing, Says IPOB
Operatives of Enugu Police Command have invaded the venue of the meeting of the members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, at Emene, Enugu East local government area of the state.
A source who witnessed the invasion told our correspondent that the security operatives came with 4 fully loaded hilux vans. While many where arrested, others fled.
JOURNALIST101 reports that this is coming less than two weeks after 11 members of the group were arrested at WAEC Bus-Stop in Independent Layout within Enugu metropolis.
Though the details and reason for the invasion isn’t yet known, sources at the state police command said the stint operation is part of the ongoing efforts by the security operatives to tame the outlawed group and stop their activities in the region.
A highly placed source at the command said they got Information that the group was planning to disrupt another event in the state just like they less than two weeks ago.
“If you will recall, on the 17th of February, this is group disrupted an event organized by the Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA) in Enugu. The command got Intel that they’re plotting to repeat the same thing and that’s the reason for the operation,” the police source who doesn’t want his name in print said.
When contacted, the Command’s spokesperson, SP Ebere Amaraizu said efforts are on top gear to arrest the fleeing members of the group and they might be declared wanted if they continue to evade arrest.
However, one of the leaders of IPOB in Emenite area quickly debunked the claim by the police, adding that “this is just an effort to give a dog a bad name so as to kill it.”
The leader of the group who gave his names Osondu Azubuike maintained that they’re a non violent group that’s simply asking for their right in Nigeria which the government has continued to deny them.
He added that some of their members that escaped after the raid “are still missing and we don’t know if they’re still alive or dead.
“As I speak to you know, we can’t account for them and we don’t know if they’re still alive. We can’t find our members, about 6 of them. Nonso Anibueze Cyril, Ugwu Onyedikachi Christopher, Maduchebe Stephen cal, Nwannebuife Malife, Ozor Kelechi, Onele Abumchukwu are all our members we can’t account for till date.”
He said they haven’t returned home 3 days after their meeting venue was raided and also accused the police of “persecuting” them because they’re asking for their freedom.
“Right now, we’re hearing that the police wants to declare them wanted but we’re sure they (police) know where our missing members are,” he concluded.
