Police to arraign 37 suspected IPOB members in court on Monday

The Abia State Police Command of Nigeria Police Force on Saturday disclosed that it has arrested 37 suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who were reportedly arrested during the unrest in Abia State would face prosecution.

While 30 were reportedly arrested by soldiers along Isiala Ngwa area of the state, seven persons were allegedly amongst the arsonists that burnt and looted Ariaria Police Divisional Headquarters in Aba, the commercial nerve center of the state at the early hours of Friday.


This was disclosed by the State Police Commissioner, Anthony Michael Ogbizi who took Inspector General of Police Team led by AIG Operations, Force Headquarters Taiwo Lakanu that arrived the state on Friday with about 500 Mobile Policemen deployed to the state by the IGP, Idris Ibrahim Kpotum to access the level of damage on Ariaria Police Division.

Ogbizi stated that the suspects would be arraigned in court on Monday while investigation into the matter would continue, adding that efforts were ongoing to track others that were still at large.
The suspects, it was gathered were arrested through intelligence gathering by the combined team of the IGP team and officers of the NPF that were on ground in Aba.

Ogbizi further disclosed that Improvised Explosive Device (IED); Petroleum Bomb (Bottle containing fuel, pieces of broken glasses and other dangerous materials) were equally recovered from Nnamdi Kanu’s house by the army and has since handed such over to the police.

He added that the Station Officer, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, who sustained serious injuries after he was attacked by the arsonists, died early hours of today in an undisclosed hospital where he was receiving medical attention.

He used the opportunity to warn anyone sponsoring IPOB to desist from such especially now that the group has been declared a terrorist group and stressed that anyone caught would be tried according to the stipulations of the terrorism act.

“You recall that on the 10th and 14th of this month, the very police division was attacked by IPOB members. They came in droves in early hours of the day. They forcefully broke the entrance zone and destroyed almost everything.

“They were armed with petrol bomb. They burnt police vehicles and carted away three pump actions and other police materials. Some officers were injured and in fact as I’m talking to you, one of the injured police officer, an ASP is dead. The doctors tried their best to save him, but they couldn’t. Now, we have lost a soul. And you know what it takes to train a police officer. And you know the vacuum created. Once a police officer is gone, it takes a minimum of one year to train another
The seven we arrested will be charged for murder, arson and conspiracy for breach of the law.

“Simultaneously, they carried other attacks on law abiding citizens of this nation. You could see along the road the destruction of vehicles belonging to citizens. Certainly you cannot say that that is a peaceful demonstration. I think this attack was orchestrated to get arms which they succeeded in doing. Thank God the police succeeded in securing other arms. They attacked a bank may be with the intention to get more money to buy arms.

“IPOB going to that extent cannot be said that it is a non-violent movement. While this one was happening here, along the road in Isiala Ngwa, the same IPOB members in droves confronted the military and the military was able to arrest up to 30 of them.

“They will be prosecuted for rioting and unlawful assembly and other things. While that was going on, the same IPOB carried attack of various manner in Umuahia and even tried to collect a riffle from a female military officer. In the processes, the military resisted and was able to arrest 19 of them.
“At the same time, along the road leading to Umuahia, they set up bonfire attacking the police and innocent citizens and pulled out traffic stands. The vicinity where the Attorney General of the State, Assistant Inspector General Zone 9, Commissioner of Police, and other residents live. They attacked the quarters of the Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 9 and that of the Commissioner of police.

“And the house of the self-acclaimed leader of IPOB, Nnamdi KANU was the house they usually come out from to carry out these attacks and information reaching us is that they have started gathering there. Many exhibits were recovered from there like, petrol bomb and coat of arm of Biafra.

“I know that 90% of Abians are not in support of this, but a few hoodlums and some others from other states operating under the disguise of IPOB with the motive to cripple the economy of Abia. If this is not planned, how could they come in droves to carry out these attacks? At time, a mobile patrol vehicle was moving and IPOB members poured petrol on the van with intend to burn it. Imagine if that was successful. I’m glad that eastern governors have proscribed the organization.

“And any individual, or group of individual operating under the disguise of IPOB with Biafran flags and any other materials will be arrested and prosecuted. You test they law of the state. They state is superior. IPOB has grown up to this level, and it must be stopped. 

And because it has been proscribed, any individual, that aid, council, finance, harbour all these hoodlums as IPOB will be prosecuted. Even those who instigate by their speech, action and conduct bring breach of peace will be prosecuted. This place is calm as IGP has deployed 500 mobile police men to put things in order here. As you can see, we are beefing up security.”

On the allegation by the IPOB that security agents whisked away Nnamdi Kanu’s father and some members of the IPOB leader’s family, Ogbizi said “We don’t have Nnamdi Kanu’s father in police net”, but however accused Nnamdi and his brother, Prince Emmanuel of feeding the public with fake information which he asked the public to disregard.

( The Nation)

Get more stories like this on Twitter & Facebook