‘I’m not an IPOB member’ – Man cries out after police declared him wanted

A middle-aged man, Chukwuma Lawrence Onwudinjo from Agulu in Anambra State, has cried out after the police declared him wanted for being a member of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

Chukwuma’s ordeal started on August 22, 2022 during a clash with the police and suspected members of the police in Achi, Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State.

It was gathered that some youths in the area were protesting against indiscriminate arrest of residents by the police but the protest turned violent when they approached the Expressway.

The police started firing teargas canisters, a situation that led to chaos. Many people were arrested and taken to the station, including Chukwuma.

But a few days later, unknown gunmen who are wreaking havoc in the South-East attacked the station and freed all detainees.

The police immediately declared all freed inmates wanted.

However, Chukwuma, who spoke to journalists from his hideout said he was a victim of circumstance.

He disclosed that he was on a commercial bus on his way to Enugu when he ran into the protest.

He narrated that: “I met a group of people protesting along the road; all of a sudden, police men started shooting and throwing teargas everywhere.

“People started running but unfortunately for me I was one of the victims affected by the teargas and the police officers arrested me.

“They took us to their detention station and branded me an IPOB member, maltreating us to the highest level.

“After a week in their custody with brutal treatment, a group of unknown gunmen attacked the station and I managed to escape.

“I was shocked when I heard that they declared me wanted, that I am an IPOB member.

“I am crying out now so that the whole world will know that the police are after me for no just cause,” he lamented.