Biafra - Police say 59 arrested IPOB members will be charged for murder

The police have arrested 59 suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Abia state.

The state police commissioner, Anthony Ogbizi, disclosed this on Sunday, September 17, at a media briefing where he paraded seven of the suspected members of IPOB at Ariaria police station in Aba.

He also said an officer was killed by the group Biafra agitators.

Ogbizi added that the arrested IPOB members will be prosecuted for murder, arson and other related crimes.

Following the recent clash with the Nigerian Army, the Defense Headquarter had declared the IPOB a terrorist organisation, while the south-east governors also banned the group in the region.

In light of these, the police said anyone found with Biafra materials will be arrested and prosecuted.

According to Ogbizi, the suspects will be prosecuted under the anti-terrorism act.

He said between September 10 and September 14, the Ariaria police station was attacked by suspected members of IPOB who destroyed everything at the station.

"Even some policemen were seriously injured. In fact as I am talking to you, one of the injured police officer is dead. Doctors tried in vain to save his life," he said.

"Now we have lost a soul and you know what it takes to train a police officer. You know the vacuum that creates. It takes a minimum of one year to train a police officer."

He said the Biafra agitators also destroyed property of lawful citizens, adding that their demonstration was not peaceful.

Meanwhile, the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu's whereabouts is said to be unknown.

IPOB members had alleged that he was kidnapped by soldiers alongside his father and other relatives.

But the police has since denied the claim.