The Anambra State police, in collaboration with various security agencies, in their fight to combat terrorism, recently arrested several proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) members alleged to be involved in terrorist activities in the country.
One Nweke Timmi Chidiebere is said to be in hiding since June 15, 2024 for fear of being arrested after his apartment was busted on June 13, 2024 by security agents on account of his alleged involvement with members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Anambra State.
It was revealed by security agencies that, failing to secure his arrest on June 13 2024, Nweke Timmi Chidiebere, who originally hails from Ozalla in Nkanu-West Local Government, Enugu State, was declared wanted by security operatives on June 15, 2024 for conspiracy and active involvement with the proscribed IPOB in carrying out terrorist activities in the community and its environs.
It was reported that the Commissioner of Police in the state, under the directive of the Inspector General of Police (IG) of the Federation, had warned that the command would not allow miscreants disguising as IPOB members to perpetuate terrorist activities in Anambra State and the country in general.
A police source who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity revealed that Chidiebere was mentioned by some persons in the community as a member of IPOB who has been recruiting and indoctrinating some youths of the community to join the proscribed organization to carry out terrorist activities.
A leader in the community, Chief David Onovo, who spoke to our correspondent, revealed that Chidiebere was allegedly framed by some individuals as an IPOB member, upon which his apartment was busted on the June 13, 2024 and he was brutally assaulted by uniformed men suspected to be security agents. He noted that Chidiebere managed to escape from the grips of the security men and has been in hiding. According to him, “Chidiebere is being framed because of some minor conflict he had with some individuals over community issue, and they have vowed to deal with him. “I am a respected chief in this community; the young man is just being witch-hunted by some individuals with whom he had minor issues.”
Reports also revealed that the security agents trailed Chidiebere to Lagos upon receiving information that he was there, after he escaped and was trailed by security agents once again to Abuja, yet he could not be found.
Chief Onovo noted that Chidiebere’s escape from his community is considered very critical to his continued existence to avoid being killed by security agents.
It should be recalled that, for some years now, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement has gained traction in its demands for independence, and the Nigerian central government is not pleased.
Former President Buhari, in light of this, put out a strong message that the integrity of the Nigerian nation is “not negotiable”. The hand of the military has been equally strong. IPOB has been declared a terrorist group, and consecutive military raids have produced a number of deaths in recent months.
