EndBadgovernance: Police accuse IPOB member of spearheading protest, launch manhunt

Emeka Udorji, Owerri

The Imo State Police Command has declared one Ibua Samuel Tochukwu wanted over his alleged role in the August Endbadgovernance protest held across the country.

The command in a bulletin obtained by our correspondent, said Tochukwu hails from Mgbidi in Imo State.

According to the bulletin, the suspect, identified as a key member of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, participated actively in the planning and execution of the hunger protest.

It could be recalled that from August 1-10, Nigerians trooped out from across the country, protesting against bad leadership and worsening hunger in the country.

Security agencies initiated a clampdown on the protesters, arresting some of them, including minors. Imo State has also been a hotbed for IPOB activities, leading to frequent clashes between the group and security agencies.

IPOB is seeking self-determination and wants to have Biafra independent state, a move the Nigerian Government is totally against. The Imo Police Command accused Tochukwu of festering the IPOB agenda through the Endbadgovernance protest.

According to the bulletin, “This is to inform the members of the public that we have launched a manhunt for an IPOB ring leader, Ibua Samuel Tochukwu, who has been on our watchlist for a long time.

“He recently took active part in the nationwide protest, hiding under it to spread his Biafra agenda.

“Anybody with useful information on his whereabouts should please report to the nearest police station.”

Meanwhile, Tochukwu’s brother, Mr. Peter Chibuzo told our correspondent that the police had made life a nightmare for them by frequently invading their family house to look for him.

While questioning the rationale behind it, he said: “why should they be looking for my brother simply because he is a member of IPOB?

“The Nigerian Government is not fair to the Igbos; we are over marginalised, yet they don’t want us to secede; this is oppression taken too far.

“I’m calling on the police to stop further invasion of our house; they should also lift the wanted man tag from my brother, Tochukwu because he has not committed any crime.”