The Police said they would charge 33 members of the Indigenous People(IPOB) of Biafra with terrorism charges after they were accused of killing an inspector and setting ablaze a police patrol vehicle.
The men, whose identities were unveiled Sunday, were arrested in Nnewi, Anambra state, along with some insignias of IPOB and eight motorcycles.
The police said they may also be charged with murder, attempted murder, rioting and malicious damage, upon the completion of their investigation.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP, Jimoh Moshood said, “On 23rd November, 2018, there was intelligence report that members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) an unlawful Terrorist organization were sighted gathering in their hundreds with dangerous weapons near Teaching Hospital, Owerri Road, Nnewi about to cause disturbance of Public Peace and public safety in the Nnewi and Environs.
“Consequently, Police Patrol teams led by the Area Commander, Nnewi, ACP Nnanna Oji Ama mobilized to the scene to prevent them from causing breakdown of law and order and mayhem, and destruction of lives and property.
“The Police Team, while proceeding to the scene came under ambush from the IPOB members, in the process, a Police Inspector was killed, two (2) other Police Officers were seriously injured and one Police Patrol vehicle was set ablaze, and the proscribed IPOB members snatched and carted away two (2) AK47 Rifles and one Beretta Pistol with ammunition.”
Meanwhile, a loud protest erupted among the suspects when accusations of killing a police inspector and snatching of arms were read to journalists by Moshood.
The suspects said they were mostly traders in Nnewi market who had finished their business for the day and were about to close shop before they were arrested long after the protesting members of IPOB had left.
One of the suspects, Evangelist Sunday Ilonze said he and his servant were arrested in his shop while trying to close for the day.
“I came back from a burial and didn’t even know what had happened during the day and was ordered by some gun-wielding police officers to go into the vehicle, but I refused because I am a law abiding citizen, but they brought me here,” he said.
Most of the suspects were seen crying all through the parade, insisting that they were innocent and should not be allowed to suffer for a crime they did not commit.
Moshood, however, assured that a thorough investigation would be launched into the matter, and those found guilty would be charged for terrorism.
The full List of arrested IPOB members:
UCHE AMOS, 65Yrs, from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra State
ELIAZER EMMANUEL, 24Yrs, from Umunneochi LGA, Abia State
ELIAZER CHIMA, 23Yrs, from Umunneochi LGA, Abia State
ABUCHI OBETA, 19Yrs, from Nnewi South LGA, Anambra State
SOMTOCHUKWU OKAFOR, 17Yrs, from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra State
AGBOMA JUDE, 35Yrs, from Nsukka, Enugu State
EZEZONA ODUAGU
KELECHI EZE, 20Yrs, from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra State
OKAFOR CHIMIERE OLISA, 20Yrs, from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra State
RAPHEAL OGOH, 27Yrs, from Nnewi South LGA, Anambra State
OKEKE CHISOM, 19Yrs, from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra State
DANIEL NWAKPU, 35Yrs, from Ikwo, Ebonyi State
FRIDAY NWAFOR, 34Yrs, from Ishielu LGA, Ebonyi State
ONYEKA NWAJOBI, 49Yrs, from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra State
OBETA UWAKWE, 25Yrs, from Igboeze North LGA, Anambra State
FESTUS ODIKA, 41Yrs, from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra State
EMMANUEL OKOYE, 22Yrs, from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra State
UMEH SUNDAY, 43Yrs, from Aguata LGA, Anambra State
IKE CHIEMEZIE SAMUEL
SUNDAY ILONZE, 43Yrs, from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra State
CHUKWUEMEKA NWAESE, 32Yrs, from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra State
ODUGU CHIMA, 23Yrs, from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra State
JACOB MONDAY, 48Yrs, from Nnewi South LGA, Anambra State
VINCENT OKOROAFOR, 39Yrs, from Owerri North, Imo State
JUDE EKE, 32Yrs, from Igboeze South LGA, Enugu State
CHARLES UKAZU, 35Yrs, from Ideato South LGA, Imo State
EZIEOKWU ERNEST 17 YRS, from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra State
CHIBUIKE OZOEMENA, 30Yrs, from Ikeduru LGA, Imo State
CHIGOZIE ONYEOGAZIRI, 46Yrs, from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra State
NWANKWO DONATUS, 48Yrs, from Orumba South LGA, Anambra State
OKAFOR OLISA, 20Yrs, from Nnewi North LGA, Anambra State
PETER NWANKWO, 25Yrs, from Nnewi South LGA, Anambra State
EBEGBONI GEOFFREY, 43Yrs, from Ika South LGA, Delta State
