The commissioner of police, Rivers state, Ahmed Zaki has revealed that 32 suspected members of the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) have been arrested. He said they were arrested for allegedly being behind the fracas that occurred at Oyigbo local government area of the state.
Speaking to journalists at the command headquarters in Port-Harcourt, Zaki said that the area has been restored to normalcy and vowed that all those responsible for the unrest will be severely dealt with.
He also debunked reports that a mosque was burned down.He said: “The said group who had no justification for their action also attacked a Police van from Training School Nonwa en route Port Harcourt International Airport and burnt the Police van to ashes.
The driver Inspr. Emaikwu Ochochi was badly injured and is now on admission. They also carted away one AK 47 riffle with sixty rounds of live Ammunition and one Berretta Pistol with 8 rounds of live Ammunition.
At the end of their rampage, many vehicles were damaged and stores burnt.The timely response of the Police restored normalcy and brought the situation under control as I made adequate deployment to arrest the situation. The mob were dispersed with minimum force thereby restoring law and order. At the end of which 23 IPOB members were arrested.
However, the Command was awaken to yet another sad incident today at about 0010hrs, where the same dare devil IPOB members regrouped and launched a surprise attack on the Mobile Policemen stationed at Oyigbo junction, killing a Police Sergeant identified as Sgt. Steven Daniel attached to 19 PMF, injuring two and set a patrol vehicle ablaze as a result of which a Sterling SMG Riffle belonging to the deceased Sgt. was taken by the hoodlums.
They were however repelled by the Police, where about 9 of them were arrested, bringing the total number of suspects arrested to 32. They are helping us in Investigation and will be due in Court as soon as our Investigation is concluded.”
