Joint Army/Police tear-gas protesting Jewish worshipers in Umuahia, arrest 51

A joint force of Nigeria Army and Police, late Tuesday morning dispersed protesting multitude of Jewish worshipers in Umuahia. Singing religious and Christian songs, the worshipers had embarked on peaceful protest from their praying ground situated in the compound of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) country home, in Afara Ukwu Ibeku in Umuahia North LGA of the state though Bank Road towards the city centre, popularly called Isi Gate. They were however followed by a convoy of four patrol vans of the army led by an armoured car, while maintaining a distance of about 100 meters away from the worshipers who were also carrying the Biafra and Israeli flags. Confusion ensued with the arrival of police convoy who threw several canisters of tear gas at the worshipers around 10.52 am. Speaking, a high ranking Jewish worshiper, Israel A. Ibe said the aim of the protest was to demand Judaism in Biafra land. “We need to be free as we are not free being with Nigeria government. You cannot keep yam and goat together. Their culture and religion is not the same with ours. So, there is no need being together”, Ibe said expressing his belief that “the country has expired for us to own country”. According to him, the protest was intended to be a one-day event, adding that the police and necessary government agencies were duly notified about the peaceful protest. However in his reaction, the Chief Imam of Abia State, Sheikh Ali Ukiwo described the worshipers’ action as “very bad, untimely and uncalled for”. He said historically, December is the month of celebrations in the Igbo land and therefore not good for the people this time. He saw it as being detrimental to Ndigbo, especially Abia, adding “I know what we suffered during the war. It did not go beyond Enugu at the north axis, Ariam in Ikwuano LGA of Abia State at the south end and Owerri at the west end of Abia. So, why can’t we us our God-given brain. “Even if we need Biafra, this is not the way to go about it”, Sheikh Ukiwo said adding “they don’t have the strength”. According to the Muslim cleric, though the protest is peaceful, “it depends on how they started it. Why agitate to your own detriment”. At 11.14 am, the Army/Police convoy retreated back with several rounds of gunshot into the air by the police. Information has it that though at Nnamdi Kanu’s country home where the worshipers had assembled earlier, no security agents were there, adding however close to 12 of the worshipers, including a woman were arrested. When contacted on the telephone for his confirmation of any arrests, the Police /Public Relations Officer, Geoffrey Ogbonna confirmed that 51 were arrested, including 10 women. According to him, they were arrested because they had the insignia of Biafra. Sunday Nwakanma, Umuahia