A clash between personnel of the Nigerian police and Members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, have resulted in the death of six persons in Orafite, Anambra State.
Among the dead were an Assistant Commissioner of Police and a Sector Commander of Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS.
Police had led a crackdown on IPOB gathering, killing four persons.
But the group retaliated and killed an Assistant Commissioner of Police who led a crackdown on the group.
A statement by the command spokesman, Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the attack, saying the incident occurred on Monday when policemen were dispatched to arrest a suspected IPOB member.
“On 2/12/2019 at about 11:30 am, there was a formal complaint against One Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor ‘m’ (a member of the proscribed IPOB) in Oraifite on alleged case of abduction, assault occasioning harm and malicious damage to property,” Mr Mohammed, a superintendent of police, said in the statement.
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“Following the report, Police Patrol teams led by the Area Commander, Oraifite ACP Oliver Abbey mobilised and rushed to the scene in order to arrest the suspect who declined Police invitation.
“However, as soon as Police arrived at the house, armed men suspected to be IPOB members descended on the Police, set ablaze one Patrol vehicle and attacked them with rifles and machetes. As a result of the attack, two Police officers whose identities are being withheld were killed by the suspected IPOB members while others were inflicted with machete cuts. The injured personnel were rushed to the hospital for medical attention and are presently receiving treatment.
“Consequently, the Command deployed reinforcements from the State Headquarters comprising of PMF, SARS and Special Anti Cult Units in conjunction with the Army/other Sister agencies who cordoned off the area in order to fish out the culprits, while Joint patrol are still ongoing in the town to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
“Meanwhile, some arrests were made and the Commissioner of Police CP John B. Abang, FDC who is on his way to the scene has vowed to bring perpetrators of this dastardly act to justice.”
IPOB is yet to make an official statement as at the time of filing this report.
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