Anambra State — The Anambra State Police Command has declared three suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) wanted for allegedly sponsoring the group’s activities in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area.
The wanted suspects were identified as Ifeanyi Adonike (35), Chukwudi Emeka (37), and Chibueka Augustine (40), all natives of the community.
Parading 19 other suspected IPOB members before newsmen in Awka, the state capital, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Tanko Ibrahim, who spoke on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Emeka Ezike, said the suspects were arrested during a clash with security operatives.
According to Ibrahim, the IPOB members had unlawfully assembled at Ozubulu Town Hall around 6:30 p.m. on May 16, 2023, allegedly on the invitation of the wanted trio. He said they were found singing war songs, brandishing the outlawed Biafran currency, tearing the Nigerian flag, and displaying placards with inscriptions such as “Biafra has come to stay, or else war.”
“Acting on a tip-off, a combined team of the Army and Police swooped on the group and arrested 19 suspects, while the three key sponsors escaped,” Ibrahim said. He urged members of the public with useful information on the whereabouts of the fugitives, particularly Adonike Ifeanyi, to contact the nearest police station, assuring that such information would be treated confidentially.
Eyewitnesses, however, gave conflicting accounts. One resident claimed not all those arrested were IPOB members, adding: “They usually gather at the town hall to pray before their meetings, but soldiers and policemen invaded the area with heavy shootings. I saw more than sixteen persons injured.”
The incident reportedly caused panic as residents fled their homes, businesses were shut, and motorists avoided the Ozubulu–Onitsha road.
In a reaction, an IPOB official who spoke anonymously accused security agencies of indiscriminate arrests. The group’s Anambra State Coordinator, who gave his name as Chukwuemeka Chidi (23), said: “Some of our members are in detention, while three managed to escape. Our peaceful demand for liberation has continued to be met with killings and unlawful arrests.” He appealed to the international community to investigate the situation.
When our correspondent visited Ozubulu after the incident, security operatives were seen mounting checkpoints at strategic locations, with over 15 patrol vans conducting constant surveillance across the town.
