By Emma Okoli
Enugu State police command yesterday said that no fewer than 11 persons suspected to be members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) were arrested for an alleged breach of public peace.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Ebere Amaraizu, said that the suspects were arrested by police operatives around Universal Hotel axis of Independent Layout Enugu.
His words: “They were nabbed based on intelligence information gathered which guided the operatives on the successful operations carried out.
“Those arrested are helping the operatives in their investigation in relation to their alleged nefarious activities and will be arraigned properly in a law court after investigations are concluded. “Members of the public are enjoined to be law-abiding, security conscious and also to partner with police to ensure that the state continues to maintain the tempo of the safest and secured environment.”
However, what would have resulted in a major crisis was averted by the police intervention as pro-Biafra groups, including Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Biafra Zionist Federation (BZF), disrupted an event to honour prominent Igbo leaders.
The event, organised by Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA), at Universal Hotel Enugu with the theme, “Restructuring of Nigeria along Federalism, a must”, was meant to honour prominent Igbo leaders such as the late first Republic President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the late prominent women leader, Margarete Ekpo, late former governor of old Imo State, Chief Sam Mbakwe; renowned constitutional lawyer, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, and first Republic Aviation Minister, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi.