Outrage, Controversy Trail Bloody IPOB-Police Enugu Clash
Widespread condemnation and outrage have trailed last weekend’s bloody confrontation involving members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPO and security agencies at Emene in Enugu state. Although, there are still conflicting accounts of what triggered the shootings and the actual casualty figures, the tragic incident has continued to generate ripples across the south east. The Ohanaeze Ndigbo, human rights group, top political leaders and other commentators have condemned the incident and called for restraint.
Orient Daily gathered that attempt by police operatives to stop a meeting of IPOB members at the Community Secondary School, Emene last Sunday degenerated to shooting, culminating in death of scores of members of the outlawed group and two security operatives. Although the police claimed that four civilians and two operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) lost their lives, IPOB insisted that, at least, 21 of its members were gunned down during the clash and about 47 arrested.
Claims and counter claims
The DSS, had claimed, in a statement issued through its spokesman, Peter Afunanya, that its operatives who had gone on intelligence gathering operation were attacked by armed IPOB members, leading to the death of two of its personnel.
The Enugu state police command, which also reinforced the DSS claim, added that four other persons, suspected to be IPOB members, also died. The police, however, blamed the skirmishes on alleged attack on security operatives by the pro-Biafra agitators.
According to an official account of the incident issued by the Enugu state police command’s public relations officer, Daniel Ndukwe, security operatives had stormed the place at Emene on a rescue mission following credible information that suspected members of IPOB, numbering over 500, had gone on a rampage, blocking [and burning tyres on] the road.
“They were said to have abducted operatives of the DSS. Following the report, the state commissioner of police, CP Ahmad AbdurRahman immediately deployed operatives of the command … to rescue the abducted operatives and restore normalcy.”
Ndukwe said the police operatives were joined by those of DSS, the Army and Air Force and “came under serious gunfire attacks by the hoodlums.” The ensuing gun duel, according to the police was such that “two of the hoodlums were gunned down, while some of them escaped with bullet wounds.”
He insisted that five [and not more] IPOB members were arrested, adding that the arrested members confessed that they were in the school for a meeting and training in martial art and self-defence skills.
“Machetes, cut-to-size woods with nails affixed, phones and other items were recovered at the scene. Meanwhile, before getting to the scene, the hoodlums had macheted and gruesomely killed a young man, set another ablaze, while also attacking police personnel resident in the area,” he adds.
IPOB, however, in a statement through its spokesman, Comrade Emma Powerful, claimed that security personnel stormed IPOB meeting ground and “started shooting sporadically which consumed lives of 21 members and 47 arrested for just no cause or provocation”.
The group described as ‘laughable’ claims by security operatives that it lost its personnel during the incident. “It is clear to all that IPOB doesn’t carry arms,” it said.
The group, however declared that it would no longer keep quiet in the face of aggression. “We must warn and put the whole world on notice that Nigerian Government and her security operatives should stop killing our people because we are A peaceful organisation with the mandate of restoring Biafra sovereignty within shortest period. This rampant killing of innocent members of IPOB will be reciprocated in due cause.
Powerful insisted that IPOB` remained committed to a violence-free Biafra campaign despite violent crackdown on its members. “We are not a violent group and there is nothing they can do to change our resolve to maintain peace and order in our land. IPOB is a peaceful movement and we must remain so till Biafra is totally achieved.
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