Man declared wanted over IPOB membership
By John Okolo, Owerri
A middle-aged man, Mr Chimaeze Emmanuel has been declared wanted by the Nigerian military over his alleged membership of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
Emmanuel, from Ahiazu Mbaise, was declared wanted after he escaped arrest.
The Military high command said he was one of the IPOB members involved in a clash with security agencies.
According to the military, “Following intelligent report on the 20th day of April 2024, on the activities of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) at Ahiazu, Mbaise Imo State and the subsequent raid of the place in search of the IPOB members by the Nigerian military, one CHIMAEZE EMMANUEL has been declared by the Nigerian military in connection with the activities of the proscribed IPOB group.”
“Anybody with useful information on his whereabouts should contact the Nigerian military, nearest police station or any security agent closest to him, a handsome reward awaits such a person,” the the military base in Imo State told journalists in a terse statement.
Meanwhile, corroborating the military, spokesperson of the Imo State Police Command said Emmanuel Chimaeze “is one of the leaders of the illegal group, IPOB. under the guise of demanding release of Nnamdi Kanu and independence, they are constituting nuisance to the Nigerian society.
“Already, the group has been outlawed, so anyone that is a member is offending the law.
He further stated that Emmanuel Chimaeze was sighted during a clash between security agencies and IPOB members at Ahiazu Mbaise but he managed to escape arrest.
“On that very day, Eze Calistus Ejike, Isaac Obiajulu, Christopher Nkemakonam, Paul Obika, Emmanuel Chimaeze, Sunday Okonkwo and Okechukwu Mbaeri were among those who spearheaded the clash between the IPOB members and security agencies.
“They escaped from lawful arrest and we have been on their trail since then.“There was also a joint operation lead to arrest Emmanuel from his village where he was hiding but he escaped again,” the cop stated, adding that a manhunt for him was in the process and a handsome reward awaits anyone that will give them useful information that will lead to his arrest.
