By Angela Solomon
Following the protests by thousands of IPOB sympathizers at Onitsha, Anambra State on December 2, 2015, for the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who was arrested on October 14 in Lagos by the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Police has today, January 11, 2016 formally issued a statement declaring three youth leaders wanted, among several others also declared wanted after the December protests.
The youth leaders are Moses Emeke, who is the coordinator of the youth movement for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, James Anya and Hygienus Iloakwechi, also members of the youth movement.
According to spokesperson of the Nigerian Police, CSP Dim Kanuri, several arrests were made during the protests where two police officers and 9 civilians were confirmed dead.
Meanwhile, Nigerians are raising eyebrows over police brutality and are accusing the authorities of complicities ranging from illegal detention of youths without charging them to court, torture and murder of IPOB protesters. The police spokesman however denied police involvement in all the allegations.
” Some Nigerians are making unfounded and baseless allegations against the police, but I tell you, the Nigerian police is only discharging its duty of maintaining law and order. Lives were lost during the protest. Property worth millions were also damaged. Should we then not discharge our duties as a law enforcement agency?
Today, we declare the aforementioned youths wanted because of their level of involvement in the protests. Previously we have declared a few others wanted too as investigations continue on the case. We have made several frantic efforts to track them and bring them before the law because they are leaders of the protests.
For example, the police has made several attempts to get one Moses Emeke who was in charge of Mobilisation for the youth protests. Several visits to his residence at No 9, Isiakpu Road in Nsukka, Enugu state have proved abortive, but we will not relent. Same goes with the others at large,including James Anya and Hygienus Iloakwechi. We are aware that if we get these young men arrested, it will help our investigations. We are at present tracking the said Moses Emeke through his IPOB identity card found at the scene of protest. We are not relenting.” The Police spokesperson stated.
In another development, the Civil Society Coalition groups in Nigeria are demanding for the release of all IPOB youths who have been arrested and unlawfully detained over the protests in parts of the South East. Comrade Timothy Chimaeze, speaking on behalf of the civil society groups stated that it was high time police understood its boundaries with regards to crime fighting and maintenance of law and order.
“Many Nigerian youths have been declared wanted in regards to the IPOB protests, which is a legitimate agitation by a group of people for self determination. Our youths are missing, many are dead, while families have declared many dead or missing, what are the authorities doing about that? This brutality and illegalities need to stop!” Comrade Chimaeze stated.
