Police arraign 14 IPOB members in Enugu

Fourteen suspected members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, who allegedly attacked some herdsmen and killed their cattles in the Amagu-Ebe axis of Udi in Enugu State were docked on 29th April , 2019 by an Udi Magistrate Court.

Eastern Security Network, ESN, a militant wing of IPOB has allegedly been attacking camps of Fulani herdsmen over allegations that they were killing natives of host communities.

The Police Prosecutor told the Court that the suspected separatist agitators led by one Mr. Chibuoke Friday had on 30th March, 2019, incited members of the public to protest alleged killing of some community members in a farm settlement by suspected herdsmen, which led to wanton destruction of properties of the herdsmen worth millions of naira.

He said the alleged offence bothered on malicious damage and breach of public peace.

When the charges were read to the accused persons, they pleaded not guilty.

The presiding magistrate ordered that they be remanded in prison custody.

Meanwhile, the prosecutor told the court that the lead suspect, one Chibuoke Friday, is still at large.

The magistrate then issued a bench warrant against him, ordering the police to produce him for trial on the next adjourned date.

Our correspondent recalls that residents of Amagu village had protested an attack on some farmers where 7 people were feared dead, while many women were raped.

The commotion was orchestrated by the killings and raping by the herders.

An eyewitness told our correspondent that, “there was total confusion everywhere at about 4 pm when corpses of the slain farmers were brought to the village.”

However, the protest by the villagers took a different dimension, leading to violent reprisal attacks on the herdsmen.

The police quickly moved in and started random arrests on Amagu village.