At least fifteen suspected members of the proscribed members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign States of Biafra (MASSOB) have been arrested by the police in Ebonyi State.
The arrest was confirmed by the Ebonyi State Police Command on Wednesday.
Speaking in a press statement, the Command’s spokesperson, Loveth Odah, said the IPOB and MASSOB members were arrested on Tuesday, August 13, 2019, in a bush at Amasiri Community in the Afikpo North Local Government Area of the State.
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Odah said the arrest came ahead of plans by the Biafra groups to hold their 2019 convention in the state.
“The Ebonyi State Police Command, in active collaboration with other security agencies in the state, while acting on credible intelligence report that IPOB/MASSOB members will have their 2019 convention in the state, on 13 and 14 August, 2019, embarked on massive “show of force” covering the entire length and breadth of the state with particular focus on identified flashpoints,” said the Ebonyi police spokesperson.
“The exercise dominated the entire state and frustrated the activities of IPOB/MASSOB members, thereby denying them the opportunity to hold their meeting in the prearranged venue.
“They were however traced to a hideout in the bush around Amasiri community, in Afikpo North LGA of the state where fifteen (15) members led by one Rev. Ogonna Nnachi ‘M’, about 70 years of age were arrested. Items recovered from them include Biafra Currency (2 pounds), branded Biafra T-Shirts, caps and bangles.
“Upon interrogation, their leader Rev. Ogbonna narrated that they were planning the burial of one of their members who died in Lagos, but was to be buried in Ohaozara LGA of the state and also planning the building of a monument in honour of late Odumegwu Ojukwu at Owerri Imo State. The arrested members were handed over to SCID for further interrogation and profiling.”
Odah added, “Ebonyi State Police Command will continue to explore all crime-fighting tactics by combing all hideouts of criminals/criminal-minded persons with the view to deny them the space to carry out their acts.
“The general public is as usual enjoined to assist the police and other security agencies by providing credible information on any suspicious activity and movements of persons or goods.”