The Police, IPOB and Oraifite Killings
What was perceived as a clash between masquerade cults in Oraifite, an Anambra community, recently snowballed into a clash between the police and members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, which led to the death of senior police officers. David-Chyddy El
Ozubulu community in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State was a theatre of war recently, with men of the Anambra State Police Command and men of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) challenging each other in a violent clash.
THISDAY gathered that the clash started when policemen led by ACP Oliver Abbey stormed the home of Barr Ifeanyi Ejiofor, personal counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB, over complaints of abduction and assault against him.
The visit resulted in the death of about six persons, leaving the police and IPOB trading blames over the number of deaths involved, and who were responsible. While police revealed that two of its top officers were killed in the clash, IPOB insists that it did not kill policemen, insisting that it was the police that killed four of its members. The media and members of the public remained on the look out for pictures of members of IPOB who were killed in the clash, but saw none.
Anambra Police’s Stance
In the evening of Monday, a release by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Haruna Mohammed had stated that, "On the 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. 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 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 were killed by the suspected IPOB members while others were inflicted with machete cuts. The injured personnels were rushed to the hospital for medical attention and are presently receiving treatment."
He said, "Consequently, the command deployed reinforcements from the State Headquarters comprising 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, the police have also declared Ejiofor wanted in connection with the killing of two police men. CP John Abang in a video message said, "We implore anyone who has information on him to report to us”.
IPOB’s Reaction
Meanwhile, Mr Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB had earlier raised the alarm, saying that the home of his lawyer was invaded, and four of his members killed by rampaging policemen. Kanu insisted that the plan of the police was to kill his counsel to stop him from further defending him in a case he has with the federal government. He stated that it was the same style the army used against him by invading his home in September 2017 to kill him and stop him from appearing in court.
In a release signed by Emma Powerful, media and publicity secretary of IPOB, the group said, "The unprovoked Nigeria police and army invasion of the home of our lawyer, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor is proof that those running Nigeria have descended into the abyss of iniquity. Not even during the darkest days of Abacha's dictatorship did anyone witness such brazen intimidation of a legal counsel or the attempted assassination of a defence counsel in a high profile case. For the police to say there was a criminal complaint against Barrister Ejiofor bothering on assault and kidnapping is most stupid and laughable. Criminal complaint from who? Who did he kidnap?" The group querried.
The release further stated, "The only reason for this unprovoked criminal invasion with deadly intent is to kill Barrister Ejiofor and to stop him from attending Federal High Court Abuja next month where he has all but defeated the Attorney General in the matter of Federal Government of Nigeria versus IPOB. It is the same strategy of invade and kill doctrine they deployed in Isiama-Afaraukwu the home of our leader on 14 September 2017 a month before he is due in court is what played out in Oraifite yesterday.
"The truth remains that Nigeria Police and army went to the home of Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor with the sole purpose to kill him before next month's court date as is now their tradition. On getting there they opened fire on unarmed civilians as usual and the two men that came out of the house were shot dead instantly. The police carried their dead and dying bodies into their van to conceal evidence and drove off. These are facts backed by evidence Anambra Police cannot deny. It is on record that IPOB remains a peaceful movement therefore this latest desperate attempt by this lying (sic) Nigeria Police to equate our activities with their home-grown (sic) terrorist organisation is a waste of time."
Investigations by THISDAY and interaction with indigenes of Oraifite however showed that truly, two police officers, and ACP and an ASP, Oliver Abbey and Joseph Akubo respectively were truly killed during the fracas by members of IPOB in Oraifite.
Our correspondent gathered that there was no news of the killing of any members of IPOB. The news of the killing of two of their men, THISDAY learnt caused a huge mobilisation on the side the police who irked by the actions of the IPOB members razed down Ejiofor's house.
Ban on Masquerade
Speaking on the crisis in the area, Oraifite Improvement Union (OIU), which controls the affairs of Oraifite community in a statement banned six masquerades groups whose activities allegedly caused the problem in the community.
The masquerades groups banned are: Otu-Eke Otu-Afor, Otu-wo, Otu-Orie and Out-Ube, Otu Ayaka and all other forms of night masquerades. THISDAY gathered that Ejiofor had a relationship with of one of the groups, which had abducted a member of another group, which led to the complaint against him to the police by undisclosed persons.
The trio of Sir Sunny Igboanuzue, President General of Oraifite Improvement Union; his secretary Offor Uche, and the traditional ruler of the Oraifite, HRH Igwe Daniel Udeoji, who signed the statement on behalf of the community condoled the police and and the families of the slain cops.
The release read, "The leadership of Oraifite town cannot keep quiet and allow criminal gangs, cultists and miscreants take over the town and tarnish the image of the good people of Oraifite.
"The OIU, the Isi Obi of Oraifite, the Obis of Oraifite, the Quarter Chairmen and the entire people will provide full, unrestrained and active support to the Nigerian Police and other law enforcement agencies towards a fair and effective investigation of this dastardly act in order to bring all those directly, and indirectly responsible to book.”
The statement added that the criminal activities of certain nefarious groups which acted as catalysts to the tragic events of December 2 have been proscribed and banished from operating in Oraifite.
The community warned that anybody found to indulge in any of the proscribed practices shall be immediately apprehended and handed over to Law Enforcement for due prosecution as a criminal.
Just as there was tension in Oraifite, which led to most indigenes of the community fleeing from fear of arrest as a result of the killing of the cops, there was also tension in Bonny, Rivers State, where one of the slain police officers, Oliver Abbey hails. THISDAY gathered that Abbey had been crowned a chief in his community, and was set to retire by next year, from where he was expected to ascend the monarchical stool of his community.
Reports showed that in Bonny, indigenes were spoiling for war, raring to go for a reprisal on Igbo businesses in the area. A senior police officer who spoke to our correspondent in Anambra however said that the police had a tough time keeping indigenes in check to avoid any reprisal.
The source said that leaders of the community has also given the necessary support to ensure that all forms of violence in the community was stalled. Hence, no reprisal was finally carried out.