Police Arrest 34 IPOB Members after Killing of Inspector

Segun Atanda/

Police in Anambra State have arrested 34 suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) over the killing of a police Inspector in Nnewi.

Police spokesman in the state, SP Haruna Mohammed, disclosed this in a statement today.

He said that some policemen and a Divisional Police Officer were also wounded while a police patrol van was set ablaze.

Haruna said that anti-riot Police Mobile Force, Counter Terrorism Unit, Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Explosive Ordinance Device personnel and Special Anti-Cultism Unit personnel as well as conventional policemen have been deployed to Nnewi and environs.

The spokesman said that on November 23 at about 11.55am, there was intelligence report that members of IPOB were gathering near the Teaching Hospital, Owerri Road, Nnewi with intent to cause a breach of public peace.

He said following the report, the police patrol teams led by the Area Commander, Nnewi, ACP Nnanna Ama, mobilized to the scene to disperse and prevent them from causing a breakdown of law and order.

He explained that as soon as the team arrived, the IPOB members descended on them, set ablaze one patrol vehicle and attacked them with machetes and stones.

“They marched towards the Agbaedo Market shouting “No Elections without referendum.

“The injured personnel were rushed to the hospital for medical attention; where the Inspector was certified dead by a medical doctor while the DPO and the ASP are presently receiving treatment,”he said.

He said that the police joint team have commenced search operations for the recovery of two AK47 rifles and one Beretta Pistol with ammunition snatched from the slain Police Inspector and police officers.

Haruna said that efforts were on to arrest other fleeing members of the group and bring them to justice.

The police spokesman urged members of the public to go about their lawful businesses and reminded them that IPOB remains a proscribed organisation and its’ activities illegal.

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