Man Declared Wanted Over Ipob Membership

Jude Okeke, Awka

A middle -aged man Mr Ifeanacho Michael Okechukwu has been declared wanted by men of Anambra State police command over his alleged involvement in a violent clash between security forces and members of the outlawed indigenous people of Biafra, IPOB.

Ifeanacho a native of Atani in Ogbaru Local government area of Anambra State was declared wanted after he escaped arrest during a protest on 30th May 2017.

Ifeanacho who resides at Atani is a notorious leader of the illegal group, IPOB along his men namely; Ikenna Uzoka, Okwudili Onyekwere, Ifeanyi Nnadozie etc usually constituting nuisance around Ogbaru region , the neighborhood and the state in general, in the name of demanding for the release of the ‘ BIAFRA LORD’ Mazi Nnamdi KANU.

The group has already been declared illegal, thus any individual who is a member is violating the law.

He was previously apprehended due to his involvement with IPOB, but he was released on bail with the stipulation that he report monthly; however, he failed to comply with this condition.

Additionally, Ifeanacho was spotted during a clash between law enforcement agencies and IPOB members on June 2, 2019, on the Ogbakuma Atani road in Anambra State.

Mr Ifeanacho Michael Okechukwu

On that specific day, Ifeanacho Michael Okechukwu along with his colleagues played a key role in instigating the conflict between the IPOB members and security personnel.
They managed to avoid lawful arrest, and police have been tracking their movements since that time.

On August 31, 2020, a report indicated that Mr. Ifeanacho Michael Okechukwu was one of the IPOB members engaged in a confrontation with the security agency, the Department of State Services (DSS), which occurred on Sunday morning in the Emene Area of Enugu State.

On that very day, a report gathered that the IPOB members were holding a peaceful meeting when operatives of the DSS stormed the venue and started shooting sporadically. According to a report, about 21 members of the IPOB were killed in the fire exchange between the IPOB and the security agencies while 47 were arrested and some escaped.

The trouble started when IPOB members who gathered at St. Patrick’s Community School were infiltrated by the DSS operatives in an apparent attempt to stop the meeting which led to arguments and some scuffles with the DSS calling for reinforcement.
About a dozen patrol vans loaded with well armed security operatives consisting of the police, army and DSS stormed the venue and started shooting.

The Eastern Security Network (ESN) leadership gathered to address the Fulani insurgency that transpired in Orlu, Imo State, Nigeria, in January 2021, during which the Nigerian Army sought to eliminate the paramilitary branch of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The conflict intensified following the ESN’s successful defense against the Nigerian Army’s initial advance; however, IPOB resolved the initial crisis by independently withdrawing the ESN from Orlu, Imo State.

The police accused them of being among IPOB members involved in a clash with security agencies and subsequent burning of Atani police station in 2021.

According to the police, “following intelligent report on the activities of the proscribed indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) and the subsequent raid of the place in search of the IPOB members by the security agents, the following persons-Mr. Ifeanacho Okechukwu Michael, Ikenna Uzoka, Okwudili Onyekwere, Ifeanyi Nnadozie etc have been declared wanted by the Nigerian police in connection with the activities of the proscribed IPOB group.

Anyone with useful information on their whereabouts should contact the nearest police station or any security agent closest to them, a handsome reward awaits such a person” according to the statement released to journalists.