Enugu State | IPOB narrates their ordeal in Police custody after release

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) members who were arrested by police officials in Enugu on Monday, September 19, has been released. 

The IPOB in a statement on Thursday said the release of its 12 members was secured by the group’s team of lawyers. 

The members were said to have been arrested during a sensitization rally at the Ogebte main market in Enugu, Enugu state. 

The state’s command police spokesperson Ebere Amaraizu in a statement said the group members were arrested by police officers while making an announcement for the IPOB’s proposed sit-at-home protest on Friday, September 23. 

Amaraizu also said that items recovered from the arrested members include 21 handsets, flags suspected to belong to the group, public address systems, among others.

The members were released pending their appearance in court. But narrating their ordeal, one of the released members, Stephen Ogbuonu said they were about to kick the sensitization exercise when the security chairman of the Ogbete market tried to intimidate and threatened them. 

“He threatened to kill our coordinator and he threatened to enter (infiltrate) IPOB and kill us all. In saying this, he said that he is going to show us now that he has power more than us. Then he ordered the security men of the Omatta to lock the door against us,” Ogbuonu said. 

“We did not know that his henchmen, the secretary of Ogbete market had planned against us and called the policemen from the CPS- which is Central Police Station, Enugu state. And when they came, they started beating us like slaves, they tamed us, they tortured us, and they were using sticks on us as if we are criminals.

“They beat us with belts and baton and they castigated us and tied all of us together. They forced us to go down on our knees and they were beating us as if we are animals and slaves,” he said. 

He added that it was after the beating that they were all taking to the police station and detained till their release. 

The IPOB had announced that all its members will embark on a worldwide protest today, September 23. The protest, the group said is aimed at demanding the unconditional release of their leader Nnmadi kanu who is currently under prison custody. However, the Nigerian police has warned the group against the planned sit-at-home protest.

[naij]