The Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has denied reports that his men killed members of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) during their protests across parts of the country.
Members of the two groups have organised massive protests in Delta, Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Bayelsa and Rivers States, calling for the immediate release of Radio Biafra founder and leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
Arase, in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole, on Thursday in Abuja, described the reports as social media speculations, stressing that despite provocation, police officers had managed the situation with a high sense of responsibility and professionalism.
He called on the citizens to disregard the allegation by the two groups, describing it as false and a calculated attempt to attract undue attention and sympathy.
The IGP however called on the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo to halt the ongoing protests in parts of the country.
Arase asked Ohanaeze to save law-abiding and innocent citizens in the affected states from the hardship being meted to them by MASSOB and IPOB.
He reminded the protesters, particularly those embarking on violent street protests that, “such actions are criminalised by law, and anybody arrested will be treated as such under the appropriate legislations.”
The statement reads: “The IG, while calling on the leadership of Ohanaeze to wade into these superfluous protests, to save the law-abiding and innocent citizens in the affected states from the hardship being meted by the groups, reminded those embarking on violent protests/assemblies that such actions are criminalised by law, and anybody arrested will be treated as such under the appropriate legislations.”
