One person was Wednesday allegedly killed in Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, in a clash between the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the police and soldiers.

It was gathered that brawl was prompted by a planned visit of the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, to the area with regard to his anti-election campaign in the state.

IPOB had earlier made a statement that the November 18 poll in the state would not hold, without the Federal Government obliging them a referendum to determine the fate and plausibility of a sovereign state of Biafra.

According to an eye witness who spoke on the condition of anonymity, “The area was over-run by security operatives, who came in 14 loaded trucks but despite the heavy presence of security in the area, the IPOB members still paraded the area, singing and chanting Biafran songs.

“The Biafran flags, caps, shirts and other items being sold by some youths were seized and burnt by the security operatives. It was the situation that angered the IPOB members and they tried to attack the security operatives, who tear gassed everybody and in the process, one of their (IPOB) members was killed.”

The Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, Nkeiruka Nwode, in a press statement denied any death in the crisis.

She confirmed presence of security operatives in the area, saying that it was to avoid a breach of the peace.

She said: “There was nothing like that (death). The presence of the security men was to secure the people of area from being attacked by hoodlums.

“A complaint was received by the police that there is a gathering and blockage of road by some people at central school, Ekwulobia in Aguata LGA.

“The Police with other security agencies on joint patrol went to the scene, dispersed and cleared the road peacefully without any clash.

“However, normalcy has been restored and people are going about their businesses without any threat or molestation.”

As of the time of filing the report, Kanu had not visited the place as scheduled.

Meanwhile, IPOB in a statement signed by the group’s Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, accused the police of acting on the orders of the Inspector General of Police. It said: “The now seemingly regular deployment of terrorists (Nigeria Police) in Biafra land especially in Anambra State since the announcement of election boycott in Biafra land starting from the gubernatorial election come 18th November this year is becoming alarming.

“IPOB intelligence unit discovered that those posted to Nigeria Army and Police formations all over Biafra land are nothing short of terrorists released and ordered to kill as many civilians as possible in the hope of causing chaos in the country.

“We want to alert Biafrans, men and women of good conscience across the globe that Federal Government of Nigeria dominated by Hausa Fulani have decided to kill yet another innocent person in Anambra State, in the name of holy war against IPOB.

“It has been reliably gathered also that Hausa Fulani settlements in Biafraland are awash with police and army uniforms which makes it possible for Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists to kill with impunity.

“There is a disproportionate amount of Hausa Fulani Islamic police and army officers in Anambra State and other parts of Biafra land who were posted on a mission to kill innocent Biafrans.

“The order to shoot at innocent Biafrans in Ekwulobia yesterday, Wednesday, 16th August 2017, came from the Hausa Fulani owned and dominated authorities in Abuja because there is no justification for the barbaric savagery frequently exhibited by the army and police in Nigeria against non Muslims.”

IPOB further alleged that the entire police and army personnel in Anambra State have been staffed and manned by exclusively Hausa Fulani Jihadists handpicked by Inspector General of Police and Chief of Army staff.

It said: “We are also aware that the new terrorists group posted to Anambra State with the Police and Army uniforms by Nigeria Government dominated by Hausa Fulani Oligarchs were sent to terrorise Biafran populations in the hope of intimidating us into silence the same way Northern ethnic groups have been beaten into a state of submission by the Fulani hegemonic juggernaut.

“With IPOB they have failed woefully because our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will be in Ekwulobia Aguata LGA of Anambra State on Sunday to commiserate with the families of the victims of these latest Hausa Fulani terrorist outrage carried out by the Nigerian Police.

The group condemned what they described as a frequent brutality and cold blooded murder in Anambra State in the recent times as allegedly orchestrated by the Hausa Fulani dominated armed forces.

“Also responsible are those faceless individuals hiding behind nonexistent lawyers association in Anambra State that gave Hausa Fulani’s the moral impetus to embark on this latest round of murder.

“This is ethnic cleansing because these crimes are being sanctioned by the highest office holders in Abuja.

“We are holding the DPO of Ekwulobia Police Station directly responsible for the murder of IPOB family member murdered by men under his command. We are fully acquainted with the fact that the Federal Government of Nigeria and her Hausa Fulani oligarchy have perfected plans to continue using the attack and crisis on the citizens especially the IPOB members in Biafra land with those in Anambra State to divert the attention of well meaning Nigerians and around the world who are asking questions about the constitutional calamity the absence of Major General Muhammadu Buhari is causing at the seat of power in Abuja.”

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