Bennett Oghifo
The Ebonyi Police Command yesterday said it has arrested 15 people, including two herbalists, in connection with the shooting by members of outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) that were enforcing their sit-at-home order on Tuesday in Abakiliki, Ebonyi State.
On the same day, Nigerian Army troops of 223 Battalion, operating under Sector 1 of Joint Task Force, North West Operations Hadarin Daji, in an operation, rescued 24 kidnap victims, including a child, after a shootout with notorious bandits at Kabugu Lamba, an abandoned village in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
In Enugu State, the police crushed a gang of gunmen, who attempted to enforce an illegal sit-at-home in the state in the early hours of yesterday morning
Three commercial tricyclists were killed in that dastard event on the “sit at home” day that occurred at the Ishi-Eke market in Abakiliki, the state capital.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Faleye Olayele, told journalists in Abakaliki yesterday that among the 15 suspects arrested were two herbalists, who he identified as Okwudili Otozi and Nnenna Ali.
According to CP Olayele, “They have attacked our area commander and burnt our vehicle. They have been terrorizing 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 suspects were preparing for another attack yesterday when they were arrested by operatives of the command, adding, “This shows that our officers are dedicated to their duties; the arrest was made possible by our men through the information we got.”
However, Otozi, one of the two herbalists, said the gang approached him for medicine and that they forced him to accompany them to the bush for more preparations.
He said, “I did not know that they wanted to operate in Ebonyi; they came to me and requested for medicine and I gave it to them, after which they forced me to join them to the bush for further preparations.
“Please, I was forced to follow them after I gave them the medicine.”
On Tuesday, the gunmen were seen in a viral video, shooting sporadically, while demanding that Nnamdi Kanu, the detained IPOB leader, be released.
A loud voice in the viral video said they will continue to enforce the sit-at-home order until Kanu was set free, as the gunshots rang out.
“It is happening live at Ishi-Eke market, Abakiliki in Ebonyi state. We demand the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The land will know no peace if Kanu is still detained,” the voice in the video said.
“Shoot them, kill them, destroy everything and set it on fire, since they cannot obey simple instructions. They were asked to stay at home but they neglected the instruction.
“I don’t want anything to remain. Burn everything you see, we are not happy at all. Kanu must be released. No Nnamdi Kanu, no peace in the land. As you can see, everywhere is burning.”
On June 14, Simon Ekpa, a self-acclaimed disciple of Kanu, declared a total lockdown from July 3 to 10, excluding July 6, across states in the South-east, to press demands for the release of the IPOB leader, who is in the custody of the Department of State Service.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army yesterday said troops of 223 Battalion rescued 24 kidnap victims, including a child, after a shootout with notorious bandits at Kabugu Lamba, an abandoned village in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
A Statement signed by Army Spokesman, Brig-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, said the gallant troops led by the commanding officer of the battalion, stalked and swooped on the bandits, killing four of them “in a ferocious fire-fight that ensued”.
The statement said the victims, including a minor, nine females and 14 males were rescued and evacuated from the kidnappers’ hideout by the troops.
Four Gunmen Killed in Enugu
The Enugu State Police Command has crushed a gang of gunmen, who attempted to enforce an illegal sit-at-home in Enugu in the early hours of yesterday morning.
This was disclosed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, in a statement yesterday evening.
The police had earlier on Friday reported that operatives of the command intercepted the criminals at One-Day, Awkunanaw, Enugu, as they were about to snatch an Enugu State Transport Company, ENTRACO-branded Sharon mini-van from its driver at gunpoint for their operation.
They however engaged the operatives in a gun duel, but escaped with varying degrees of fatal gunshot wounds, due to the superior firepower of the Operatives, leaving behind one AK-47 rifle with a magazine loaded with 19 live ammunitions of 7.62 calibres, two bottles of petrol bomb and other incriminating exhibits.
However, in an updated statement yesterday evening, DSP Ndukwe disclosed that a further manhunt by a combined team of tactical Police Operatives of the Command led to the recovery of the lifeless bodies of four of the male hoodlums in a forest at Awkunanaw, Enugu, where they escaped into.
Meanwhile, the Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ahmed Ammani, has, once again, reassured that the Police and other security forces in the state shall not relent in their efforts at maintaining maximum security and safety of the law-abiding citizens.
The Police Commissioner urged citizens and residents of Enugu to go about their lawful businesses.
