The police neutralised the activities of suspected herbalists, hoodlums, anarchists and scaremongers in the Nigeria’s South-East during the sit-at-home order of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
Apart from arresting IPOB members who have been terrorising residents, closing down public and private places killing and assaulting road users of the states, the police have taken them into custody for arraignment in court.
Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed disciple of the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, had declared a sit-at-home order in South East Region from Tuesday, July 3 to Saturday, July 8, 2023.
Enugu State Government, on Thursday, announced that many hoodlums, anarchists, and criminal elements, who hide under freedom agitation to perpetrate destruction, violent crimes, as well as scaremongers, have been tracked down and apprehended.
This was contained in a statement signed by Professor Chidiebere Onyia, Secretary to the State Government.
The government told residents to continue with their lawful business tomorrow, Friday, maintaining that the ban on sit-at-home remains.
The statement reads, “The Enugu State Government wishes to remind citizens and residents of the state that work, business, schooling and other legitimate endeavours will continue tomorrow being Friday, July 7, 2023.
“The government directs offices, schools, business premises, markets, including Ogbete Main Market, among others, to open for business. Failure to comply with this directive will be deemed as willful undermining of government’s policy and efforts to restore full working days, productivity, and entrepreneurship in the state, and will as such be met with appropriate sanctions.
“Government urges members of the public to disregard any scaremongers and go about their businesses, as security measures are fully in place to continue to enforce law and order and safeguard lives and property.
“It is noteworthy that many enemies of Enugu State and Igbo land, the hoodlums, anarchists, and criminal elements, who hide under freedom agitation to perpetrate destruction, violent crimes, as well as those who engage in scaremongering through fake videos and images, have been tracked down, apprehended and are being brought to book.
“We are winning the war and therefore call on Ndi Enugu to volunteer information to the authorities on any suspicious person and movement as well as those who use the social media to spread rumours and instigate panic among the members of the public.”
Ebonyi Police arrest 15 suspects
Meanwhile, the Ebonyi Police Command, on Friday, said it arrested no fewer than 15 persons suspected to have carried out the shootings by alleged members of the IPOB at the New Market and Ishieke areas of the Abakaliki metropolis, on Tuesday.
While shooting, the suspects forced people to obey the sit-at-home order issued by a splinter group of IPOB, causing panic among residents which forced them not to come out of their homes for five days, between July 3 and July 7, 2023.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Faleye Olayele, told journalists in Abakaliki that among the 15 suspects arrested were two herbalists, Okwudili Otozi and Nnenna Ali.
“They have attacked our area commander and burnt our vehicle. They have been terrorising the state. On July 4, they came to Ishieke firing sporadically and that was on Tuesday.
“I want to tell you that 15 of them have been apprehended. We recovered arms and charms of different kinds,” he said.
The police boss said the suspects were preparing for another attack on Friday when they were arrested by operatives of the command.
“This shows that our officers are dedicated to their duties; the arrest was made possible by our men through the information we got,” he said.
