Some members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), have been
declared wanted by the Nigerian Police, Anambra State Command, for the
alleged murder of Late Sergeant Sunday Adebayo, a police officer on July
13, 2013, at Onitisha.
In
a statement released by the Divisional Police Public Relations Officer
of the Onitsha Divisional Headquarters, Assistant Superintendent Chikodi
Anthony, stated that Okoh Chucks, Chijioke Madu, Okechukwu John, and
Timothy Njokwu and some others, who are members of IPOB numbering about
ten, who are now at large, have been declared wanted by the police
authorities for their complicity in the murder of a police officer, late
Sergeant Sunday Adebayo, of the Onitsha Divisional Command, who was
brutally murdered during an illegal gathering at the Onitsha Secretariat
of IPOB, on July 13, 2013, to revolt against the constituted authority
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; in their bid to secede from the
country.
In
the words of the Assistant Superintendent of Police, “we are out for
Okoh Chucks, Chijioke Madu, Okechukwu John and Timothy Njokwu, with
other culprits that are on the run, we are not going to relent until
they are apprehended to face the full wrath of the law.” He enjoined the
general public to come forward with any useful information that could
lead to their arrest; stating that a handsome reward awaits any person
who provides useful information that may lead to their arrest.
Investigation
into the matter revealed that one Michael Okoro, a member of the group
who was arrested for complicity in the murder of the late police
officer, mentioned the names of his fleeing accomplice during
interrogation, disclosed that Mr. Okoh Chucks, the leader of the group
that attacked and murdered the late officer, operates a mechanic
workshop under the storey building housing the secretariat office of the
indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) at Onitsha.
Adding that on the fateful day, a combined team of military and police
personnel invaded the compound and attacked members of the IPOB and
other persons that were at the compound; this according to him resulted
into pandemonium with everyone running for safety and in the process
late Sergeant Adebayo, was murdered by the men, when he tried to pursue
and arrest them.
According to an eyewitness
who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the death of the police officer
by the angry mob escalated the anger of the uniform personnel who
arrested Michael Okoro, with some members and non-members of the group.
He further stated that the uniform men out of rage started using the
registered business names of shop owners in the compound and
surroundings to look for the people, as members of IPOB who killed the
police officer, noting that when the police authorities were not able to
apprehend the culprits, they declared them wanted.
Indigenous
People of Biafra (IPOB), is a Separatist Organization led by Nnamdi
Kalu. The group wants a number of states in South-East Nigeria, made up
mainly of people from the Igbo ethnic group, to break away from Nigeria,
to form the independent nation of Biafra; which is against the consent
of the leadership of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
It
was later gathered that a man hunt was placed on Okoh Chucks, Chijioke
Madu, Okechukwu John, Timothy Njokwu and others that are currently at
large; as a result of which they have all fled from Onitsha, and since
then, none of them had been seen or heard of.
