Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha

The Pro-Biafra group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Abia State Commissioner of Police, Anthony Ogbizi, yesterday engaged in war of words over alleged disappearance of younger brother of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as well as his cousin.

While IPOB accused the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of abducting Kanu’s brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu and Cousin, Bonaventure Uche Njoku, the police commissioner said nobody was arrested or abducted.
Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Emma Powerful, in a statement said the SARS police were caught on CCTV camera, while they were pursuing the duo, who were arrested whisked away.

“We, once again, draw the attention of the civilised world to the systematic and orchestrated secret killings and abduction of Biafrans closely related to our leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

“This afternoon, a team of SARS personnel were caught on CCTV, pursuing a vehicle occupied by Prince Emmanuel Kanu and his cousin, Bonaventure Uche Njoku, at Umuahia. Reports reaching us is that they have been abducted by SARS and taken to an unknown location.

“Not satisfied with the abduction of Igbo Jewish religious leaders, they have now resorted to target direct members of Nnamdi Kanu’s family, whom we presume was killed during the Operation Python Dance II in Umuahia, Abia State, last year.

“Those urging IPOB to remain peaceful must prevail on the present All Progressives Congress (APC) dictatorship to release innocent Biafrans in their custody, because no amount of intimidation and illegal arrest will prevent the coming of Biafra.

“Abductions, illegal detentions and summary executions have never stopped any legitimate march towards freedom. The spate of abductions are a sure sign that IPOB is winning.

“Their Operation Python Dance and negative media campaigns did not stop IPOB, perhaps, they feel a few abductions here and there might. Whoever advised the governor and Commissioner of Police to target Kanu’s family has done them a great disservice,” Powerful said.

When contacted, Abia State Commissioner of Police, Michael Anthony Ogbizi said he did not arrest Nnamdi Kanu’s brother or order the arrest of anybody from that family.

“In fact it is a lie, I don’t think it is true, but, I will cross check to find out,” he told Daily Sun on phone.