64-year old pro-Biafran vendor arrested by Police in Umuahia
A 64-year old vendor, popularly known as mama Biafra was mid-Wednesday arrested by a team of police men suspected to have come from the Central Police station, Umuahia.
Armed to the teeth, the police officers numbering more than 10, including four women police officers were said to have arrived at vendors’ distribution point around 3 pm and went straight for the woman who was sitting there alongside others, including people of “Free Readers Association” and asked all to drop all pro-Biafra leaflets.
According to a source, the woman, who was later identified as Mrs. Ejezie was said to be dragged by the police officers to their patrol van, even as the woman was singing and dancing as she was being lead to the police van.
Sources said that when the police officers asked who sells the pro-Biafra publications, Mrs Ejezie was said to have boldly stood up and said “I am the one” before they led her away.
When contacted through the telephone, she said she was being held at the Central Police Station, Bende Road, Umuahia, while subsequent calls put across to her was unanswered.
When asked about the arrest, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Geoffrey Ogbonna said he will get across to the reporter later and did not however answer subsequent calls put across to him.
Reacting to the arrest, the Independent People of Biafra, IPOB has called on the police to release the woman, Mrs. Ijezie “with immediate effect”.
According to Comrade Emma Powerful, the Media and Publicity Secretary for IPOB, “IPOB will no more tolerate the incessant arrest of Abians by the commissioner of police in Abia State, it is enough for the inhuman treatment they continually give to people in the state, that humiliation and intimidation in Abia State must stop.
