an unrepentant former Military Dictator, President Muhammadu Buhari.
The activists in the live videoed interview with Family Writers which will soon be televised on Biafra Television Channels, gave a first-hand account of the heart-rending circumstances that surrounded their arrest and detention; even as the Cordinator of IPOB in Ogbete market raised alarm over the threat by the Market Chairman Mr. Temple Ude to get rid of him as well as other IPOB officials and members.
The first speaker and spokesperson of IPOB Ogbete who identified himself as Stephen Mmaduaburochukwu Ogbuonu has this to say-
“My names are Stephen Mmaduaburochukwu Ogbuonu, I am from Nkelefi in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu state. I am a trader in Ogbete Main Market. What prompted my arrest together with other IPOB members in Ogbete Main Market on September 19, 2016, was because we embarked on a rally and sensitisation program, meant to enlighten the traders in Ogbete market, for them to observe the prayer and fasting for the immediate release of our able Director, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and for other IPOB members arrested, and also for the freedom of Biafra. This was what we were doing in Ogbete market. We started our movement around 10:30am, then at about 11:00am, we went from the place that we kicked off and entered Ogbete market.
We told the Chairman on Friday last week that we are going to embark on a sensitisation rally to educate our people in the market for them to observe the sit-at-home, as well as prayer and fasting for the immediate release of our amiable Director, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other IPOB members illegally held in custody; but he(the security man) was very fierce with us.
While he was abusing us, the Chairman Ogbete market entered the hall and told us that he did not order us to do anything and that he did not tell us anything. He said that we are there to castigate him and bring trouble; that he is going to show us trouble. He accused us that we put his name and phone number online, and people have been calling him to shut down Ogbete.
Meanwhile, as a result of the fact that we are IPOB and non-violent people, we did not argue, we did not fight with the security or taskforce officials of Omatta, we obeyed the instructions. They told us to sit down, and we sat down, listening. We did not know that his henchmen,the Secretary of Ogbete market had planned against us and called the policemen from the CPS- which is Central Police Station, Enugu state. And when they came, they started beating us like slaves, they tamed us, they tortured us, they were using sticks on us as if we are criminals. They beat us with belts and baton and they castigated us and tied all of us together. They forced us to go down on our kneels and they were beating us as if we are animals and slaves.As we were walking to that place, they were rumpling our flag-the Biafran flag, they were twisting the Biafrans flag, and they were carrying our mega-phone, and throwing it up and down. They squeezed Biafran flag, which was very unlawful and also collected our phones and denied us access to make call. And when they were doing this, they took us from Omatta office to CPS in Enugu where they lied us down like criminals, thieves and slaves.” he said.
Another activist, famously acclaimed as Evangelists also gave his own account of the ordeal.Evangelist Ezeh Chijioke whom the police tortured and beat to stupor spoke–
“My dear brothers and sisters, the IPOB worldwide, my name is Evangelist Ezeh Chijioke Francis, a.k.a(Chijioke-Maria). Please I am here to tell you all the truth and nothing but the truth.