Matilda Omonaiye/
A clash between men of the Anambra state police command and members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Oraifite community, Anambra State today reportedly left five people dead, including two policemen.
Police spokesman in the state, Haruna Mohammed, in a statement, said the officers were attacked while attempting to arrest one Ifeanyi Ejiofor.
According to Mohammed, when the officers arrived at Ejiofor’s house, armed men descended on them and set a patrol vehicle ablaze.
The statement reads, “At about 11:30 am, there was a formal complaint against One Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor ‘m’ (a member of the proscribed IPOB) in Oraifite on alleged case of abduction, assault occasioning harm and malicious damage to property,” he said.
“Following the report, Police Patrol teams led by the Area Commander, Oraifite ACP Oliver Abbey mobilised and rushed to the scene in order to arrest the suspect who declined Police invitation.
“However, as soon as Police arrived the house, armed men suspected to be IPOB members descended on the Police, set ablaze one Patrol vehicle and attacked them with rifles and machetes. As a result of the attack, two Police officers whose identities are being withheld, were killed by the suspected IPOB members while others were inflicted with machete cuts. The injured personnel were rushed to the Hospital for medical attention and are presently receiving treatment.
“Consequently, the Command deployed reinforcements from the State Headquarters comprising of PMF, SARS and Special Anti Cult Units in conjunction with the Army/other Sister agencies who cordoned off the area in order to fish out the culprits, while Joint patrol are still ongoing in the town to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
“Meanwhile, some arrests were made and the Commissioner of Police CP John B.Abang,fdc who is on his way to the scene has vowed to bring perpetrators of this dastardly act to justice.”
However, IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is currently on exile, had earlier accused the police of killing three members of the group.
In a statement issued through a spokesperson, Emma Powerful, he said the army and police in a joint operation invaded Ejiofor’s home this morning ”in a bid to kill him and his family”.
“Sadly three innocent Biafrans were killed by this invading force at his residence,” he claimed.
Kanu said the incident “comes on the heels of yet another killing of two IPOB family members who were peacefully gathered in Arondizuogu yesterday (Sunday) December 1″.
He noted that the police and other security agencies ”must know that the time is fast approaching when British diplomatic clout and protection may not be enough to shield them from the consequences of their daily crimes against innocent Biafrans”.
“Attacking the home of my lawyer is a step too far and the only effect it will have is to hasten the disintegration of Nigeria,” he said.
“There is a United Nations Mission, US Embassy, British High Commission and other highbrow foreign diplomatic presence in Nigeria who should take note of these ugly developments and convey the same to their home countries.
“It is their responsibility to ensure this wanton brutality, lawlessness and anarchy being engineered by the government against the people of Biafra is duly noted for what it is, an act of war,” he further stated.
He warned that those responsible ”for this deadly assault know they will pay dearly for it”.
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