IPOB: Man, two sons, others killed as security agents raid Anambra community

By Daniel Ogwu, Awka

A man identified as Ifeanyi Amatam and his two sons, Makuo Amatam and Nzubar Amatam are among the victims of the raid carried out by a joint team of security operatives in Umunze village, Ubaha, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

This is said to be part of the measures by security agencies to flush out the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, whose activities have been of much concern to the Nigerian government in recent years.

Apart from the Amatam family, five other members of the community were also killed during the raid, with scores of youth arrested.

The President-General of the community, Chief Chukwudi Okeke, who spoke to journalists on the development, decried the killing of Mr Amatam and his two sons, even as lamented that the first son of the deceased, Ebuka Emmanuel Amatam has also been placed on the wanted list by the security agencies.

He said the invasion of the community and the subsequent killing of over 8 persons, and setting ablaze of houses was condemnable.

According to him, “the mayhem visited upon our sleepy community on the 25th of April, 2022, has not been explained, except the fact that they said some of our people are members of IPOB.

“But is this a justifiable reason to wipe out an entire family? Mr Amatam, though he believes in the IPOB Biafra struggle, is that enough reason for him to be killed, alongside his two sons?

“In addition, Mr Amatam’s family house, together with ten other houses in the community, was set ablaze by the security operatives. Is that how to fight crime? By destroying people’s properties?

“Even his first son, Ebuka Emmanuel Amatam, who does not identify with the IPOB struggle has not been spared. Before now, he has been arrested and tortured by the military, who I think wanted to extract information from him concerning his father and IPOB.

“But he was later freed miraculously before this attack on our community; you can even see that their house was completely set ablaze.

“While we demand justice for the victims, we want to say that enough is enough; why are they declaring Emmanuel wanted? What crime did he commit? I’m aware that he is not a member of IPOB and even if he is a member, is that a crime?

“Under international law, don’t people have the right for self determination? This cruel treatment against the Ndigbo of South-East Nigeria should stop,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Anambra State Police Command has insisted that Ebuka Emmanuel Amatam should appear from his hiding and answer questions over IPOB-related activities.

According to a bulletin released by the command, Emmanuel’s father and all his children are key promoters of the IPOB activities in the area.