By Okey Maduforo
Anambra State Police Commissioner, Mr. Hosea Karma, has denied that security operatives killed about 40 members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for the Actualization of a Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) during the groups’ peaceful rally, which turned bloody on Monday.
The two groups accused the security operatives in the state of killing their 40 members in Onitsha during the protest.
Speaking with the Niche, Karma contended that investigations by his command in most hospitals, clinics and health centres revealed that nobody died during the clash, adding that the command had also contacted, and visited mortuaries in Onitsha, Obosi, Nkpor and Ogbunike and was told that no such corpses were brought to the area.
“People say forty, fifty or thirty persons were killed and I can tell you clearly that nobody was killed. We have gone to hospitals, health centres, clinics even mortuaries and there was no report of people brought there on the account of being hit or killed by the police.
“I urge members of the public to come up with reports or evidence of any of their friends, relatives or whoever that was killed or injured during that Monday incident. We have been making investigations ever since and we are not getting any report of somebody that was killed.”
But the National Publicity secretary of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Ifeatu Obiokoye, took a swipe on the activities of the security operatives in the last Monday’s incident.
According to Obiokoye, “Much as APGA as a political party has nothing to do with the MASSOB and IPOB, it is imperative that our security operatives should try as much as possible to appreciate the fact that these are defenseless Nigerians that have the constitutional right to make their voices heard.
“The manner and style of brutality by police, army and the rest of them is unbecoming and I urge the Inspector General of Police to call his boys to order. This was to be a peaceful protest that was hijacked by hoodlums in Onitsha and the police cannot use that as an excuse to attack innocent Nigerians.”
Meanwhile, calm and apprehension now co-exist in major police formations in Anambra following fears that the Biafran activists may carry out reprisal attacks on area commands and Divisional police stations.
According to sources, the activists have allegedly targeted Onitsha Area command, Ogidi police station and the police station at the Marine base.
When the Niche visited the state Police Command, Amawbia, near Awka, the major road across the Police Headquarters was closed on the instruction of the police commissioner over fears that the activists may attack the area, while at the Onitsha Area Command, security has been beefed up while major streets in the area are under police surveillance.
But the commissioner, Karma, said that he was not aware of any proposed reprisal attack, adding that the command was however battle ready to checkmate such actions.
“You can see that vehicles are passing through the road. Actually it was blocked but a man wrote a petition against it and we have to remove the blockage and the road is free now. On the issue of IPOB or MASSOB coming to attack us, well I am not aware; but I wish to reiterate that we are battle ready to checkmate whatever they may be trying to do”
Similarly, residents of Obosi community near Nkpor and Onitsha towns have fled their home following rumours that the Fulani herdsmen have planned to attack the area.
As at Thursday and Wednesday last week, residents were seen carrying personal belongings and relocating their children out of Obosi town to avert being caught in the attack.
Obosi community which has sufficient green vegetation up to Oba town in Idemili South local government have in the past hosted several Hausa/Fulani settlements and since the incident at Enugu State most of them left Obosi.
But the state police commissioner described the incident as untrue, adding that the command has been in contact with the town leaders and vigilante group.
Karma further explained that there was no such signal from the Divisional police station in the area and urged members of the public to disregard such stories.
“In as much as we are highly prepared for any eventuality, people should go about their lawful activities without fear. You knew that people are in the habit of raising false alarm to create tension,” he said.
