SAN FRANCISCO, December 12, (THEWILL) – The Police in Abia on Wednesday say it has arrested 51 persons suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) but operating as members of ‘Judaism’, in Umuahia.
The command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Geoffrey Ogbonna, confirmed the arrest in a telephone interview with NAN in Umuahia.
Ogbonna, a Superintendent of Police, said that the suspects were arrested for allegedly being in possession of different insignia of the outlawed IPOB.
He said that the suspects comprised 41 men and 10 women, adding that they would be arraigned at the end of the investigation.
The suspects held a procession on major streets Umuahia, carrying placards with different inscriptions, written in Jewish Language.
They were intercepted by a team of anti-riot policemen, who shot several teargas canisters in their attempt to disperse the procession.
The development caused stampede at Isigate Market as traders, shop owners, passers-by and motorists ran in different directions for safety.
The suspects, who were dressed in religious white attires with small caps, similar to those of the Jews, began the procession from Afaraukwu community, where the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, hails from but were dispersed at Isigate.
One of the members, who identified himself as Israel el-Ibe, told newsmen that the procession was organised to “publicly demonstrate our desire to be allowed to have a Jewish state of our own in Biafra land because we are Jews in Biafra land”.
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