Our Reporter
Fifteen youths, suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) were yesterday arrested by security agents over last Friday alleged killings of two police operatives in Aba, Abia State.
Scores of others have fled their homes as the police, with the support of Joint Tasks Force (JTF) comprising of the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force, intensified efforts to arrest those suspected to be behind the killings of the policemen.
The security raid on homes and secretariat of IPOB last night, sources told Reformer News, was in response to the killings of the two policemen on February 10 during a peaceful rally organized by members of IPOB at an open school field, close to popular Ariaria market in Aba.
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is a body that has been agitating for the creation of Biafra nation out of the present Nigeria over alleged marginalisation of the ethnic group economically and politically in the country.
It was learnt that the members of IPOB had converged at the open field for onward journey to Ahulu village for the burial of one of their members when suddenly policemen stormed the area to dislodge them.
The source said gunshots rented the air for about one hour at the end of which 10 IPOB members including three females and two policemen were found dead.
Though the identities of the deceased policemen could not be immediately ascertained, that of killed IPOB members were given as Boniface Ossai, Amaka Monye (f), Ken Nwachukwu, Sunny Oyeisi, Ezinne Ajumonor (f), Anthony Nwanna, Ossai Michael, Nwigwe Efunnaya (f), Nicholas Ofureneze and Enoch Igho.
Amongst the five persons arrested during the security raid included an IPOB leader in the area, Festus Eriye, Emmanuel Anya, Ndubisi Umahi and two others while the police are looking for others, particularly, Ngozi Emehelu, Calistus Nweze, Osakwe Emmanuel, Nwanna Michael, Bright Okodugba whose names were found in an IPOB register recovered from one of the arrested suspects.
They were suspected to be actively involved in the activities of the proscribed group.
Meanwhile, IPOB has decried indiscriminate arrest of its members by security agents in Imo and Abia States over the clash. The group accused the police of killing their personnel and it’s members during the raid.
According to a statement signed by IPOB Spokesman, Emma Powerful, the group explained that what transpired on the said day was that it’s members gathered at the school for a procession to the village of one of their members, killed by security agents, slated for burial.
“While they were holding a mini rally, waiting for other members arrival, the police in two trucks invaded the venue and started shooting sporadically. Our members ran in different directions for their safety. After about an hour, it was discovered that 10 of our members had been killed and police claim they lost two men also.
“In our agitations over the years, we never used weapons and those policemen must have been killed by their colleagues. They should not hang the killings of the policemen on our members.. instead, we are the ones mourning over the killings of our innocent members”, he said.
Emma lamented that most of their members were still missing and others fled the states for fear of being arrested and killed by security operatives.
“Some of our members that we cannot account for at the moment are Ngozi Emehelu of Avuku village in Imo State; Bright Okodugba from Iyara village also in Imo State; Nwanna Michael from Umuosi Umuoye Enyiogogu village in Aboh Mbaise Local Government area of Imo State, Osakwe Emmanuel from Avuru village in Abia State and Calistus Nweze from Bende village also in Abia State”, he said.
The IPOB Spokesman warned the Federal Government and security agents that nothing untoward should happen to their members noting that they were exercising their fundamental rights to associate freely as provided for in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Also, the Imo State Police Command has declared wanted those listed by IPOB as their members in connection with the killings of the policemen.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Geoffrey Ogbonna, a Superintendent of Police (SP) said the Police Command is offering a ransom of N2 million naira for any information from the public that can lead to the arrest of Ngozi Emehelu, Nwanna Michael, Bright Okodugba, Calistus Osakwe and Osakwe Emmanuel, all members of IPOB.
Ogbonna told Reformer News, in a telephone interview, that security operatives have raided the houses of the suspects but discovered that they had fled the states.
He assured that the long arms of the law would soon catch them no matter how long it’ takes.
