The Abia State Commissioner of Police, Anthony Ogbizi, has ordered the arrest of those financing, encouraging and associating with the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
Ogbizi while issuing the order also warned that anybody found with Biafra emblem will be arrested and charged to court.
The Commissioner of Police noted that with the proscription of the group by the South East governors, IPOB has become an illegal group and anyone who adorn Biafra emblems will be arrested and prosecuted.
Ogbizi while visiting the burnt down Ariaria Police station in company of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, in charge of Operations, Force headquarters, Taiwo Lakanu, accused the pro-Biafra group of using agitation for Biafra to cause violence and propaganda.
He said, “Nnamdi Kanu and his brother, engages in photo-shopping. They thrive through propaganda.
“They say IPOB is an armless group doing protests, but you have seen it yourself that the group is violent. They set bonfires on the road and attack with offensive weapons.
“IPOB destroyed the Ariaria Police, they were armed with petrol bombs which they used to destroy police and exhibit vehicles.
“They also carted three pump action rifles and threw a petrol bomb on a patrol vehicle conveying MOPOL men. You can see the destruction of commercial vehicles.
“IPOB coordinated these attacks from Nnamdi Kanu’s house. IPOB members confronted the military at Isiala Ngwa.
“Look at the attack on the bank, we don’t know the motive. IPOB going to this extent cannot be said to be a non violent organization. Anybody that abets, finances, encourages or associates with IPOB will be arrested.”
… police confirm officer killed, 59 IPOB members arrested, to be prosecuted for murder, arson
At least one person, a police officer, has been confirmed dead after an attack by suspected members of the pro-Biafra separatist group, IPOB, in Abia State, the police have said.
The police also announced that at least 59 suspected members of the now outlawed group have been arrested by security officials.
The new police Commissioner in Abia State, Anthony Ogbizi, who stated these, also said suspected members of IPOB, recently arrested, will be prosecuted for murder, arson and other related crimes.
Ogbizi disclosed this during a press briefing and parade of seven suspected members of IPOB at Ariaria police station in Aba.
He said following the proscription of IPOB by governors in the South-east and its declaration as a terrorist group by Nigerian Army, anybody found with Biafran materials would be arrested and prosecuted.
He said that they would be prosecuted under the anti-terrorism Act to ensure they were properly dealt with.
Ogbizi, echoing what the army had earlier said, stressed that IPOB by their action had shown itself to be a “terrorist group” which must be dealt with as such.
He said that between September 10 and September 14, the Ariaria police station was attacked by suspected members of IPOB who destroyed everything at the station.
He said they came with petrol bombs which they used to gain entrance, destroy properties and took three pump action guns.
“Even some policemen were seriously injured. In fact as I am talking to you, one of the injured police officer is dead. Doctors tried in vain to save his life.
“Now we have lost a soul and you know what it takes to train a police officer. You know the vacuum that creates. It takes a minimum of one year to train a police officer”, he said.
Ogbizi said they also destroyed property of lawful citizens too adding that their demonstration was not peaceful.
He also alleged that the group attacked a nearby bank to get money to acquire more weapons.
The police boss said about 30 IPOB members were arrested when they attacked soldiers at Isiala Ngwa and about 29 were arrested in Umuahia.
He said that suspected IPOB members also attacked military officers and the residences of Commissioner of Police and AIG Zone 9 in Umuahia.
Ogbizi said that the army recovered several exhibits including the coat of arms of Biafra from the suspects.
