IPOB protest: One feared dead, four arrested in Delta

Dominic Adewole, ASABA

One person was feared and four others arrested in the Delta State after members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had a clash with police.

The confrontation was said to have occurred during IPOB demonstration in the state, leading to the death of a member and arrest of four others.

This fracas came just days after gunmen attacked policemen, who were on a Stop and Search duty within Asaba. The policemen were detailed to man the NIPPI point at Inter-bau roundabout by ASCON Filling Station.

One of the policemen was allegedly attacked with a machete.

The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Chuks Orisewezie, said members of the outlawed group took the law into their hands by disturbing the prevailing race in the state.

Orisewezie said: “Four members were arrested; one of them was seriously injured. Others escaped.”

The IPOB members however claimed that they were on a peaceful protest along the streets of Asaba, when the police swooped on them. One of the protesters was allegedly shot by the police who were detailed to disperse them.

The image maker said: "IPOB members this morning started protesting and attacked our men at 'A' Division in Asaba. They later converged at Lagos-Onitsha-Asaba Expressway, and marched along the popular Nnebisi road to launch attack at a police station. We have four of them in our custody. One was badly wounded."

The PPRO listed items recovered from the IPOB members to  include a pump action gun, four jack knives, charms, a Biafran flag and cans of fuel purportedly to raze down the A' Division Police Station.