Photo: Late Sen Ubah whose remains IPOB had threatened to exhume if buried in ‘Biafra’ land
There is palpable fear in Nnewi and neighbouring towns in Anambra State ahead of Friday’s burial of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah in the industrial town, following threats by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB to attack the town if the late senator’s remains are brought home.
IPOB threatened to raze the town or any other town in the Southeast where Uba might be taken for burial because of the deceased’s alleged ‘crimes against IPOB and its interests’.
Governor Ifeanyi Soludo has declared Friday a public holiday for schools in the state in honour of the late Senator, who founded the defunct TAN, a pro-Goodluck Jonathan pressure group in 2014.
The tension in the state was highlighted by Wednesday’s friendly fire exchange between a local vigilante group and police team at Izuchukwu Junction in Nnewi Local Government area.
The incident took place near Otolo-Nnewi, where Senator Ubah is billed to be buried.
An IPOB leader, purportedly acting on the instruction of Simeon Ekpa, announced plans to attack Nnewi if the late senator is interred in his home town.
Photo: Biafra Flag
The leader, simply identified as IPOB Eze, said, “If Senator Uba is buried in Nnewi his hometown, the Biafra Liberation Army will attack those who participate in the burial and the body will be exhumed.”
He warned Osimowu (Imo State) where the group had carried out carnages and Somalia (after the war) would be a better sight than Nnewi, insisting that the group would not tolerate Ubah’s internment in Ibo (Biafra) land.
In the viral video, which first surfaced on Tuesday, Eze said the group would take over Nnewi, “exhume the remains of Uba and take his body away for burial in the evil forest.”
While the Anambra State Police Command is yet to comment on the alleged threat, police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, has confirmed the incident involving vigilantes and police.
SP Ikenga confirmed that the local security operatives “mistook the police operatives as unfriendly forces and opened fire at them.
“Preliminary information shows that security operatives on investigation trailed a suspect to a security checkpoint before the gun duel ensued.
“Unfortunately, bullets hit the fuel tank of the Toyota Venza Sedan carrying the men, and it was razed down. Two innocent passers-by were injured and taken to hospital,” Ikenga added.
