The Indigenous People of the Biafra, IPOB, has countered the claim by Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu that the killer of a motorcyclist in the state had been arrested.
The group insisted that the governor must produce pictorial evidence to prove his claim.
IPOB’s claim is coming even as the Youth wing of Ohaneze Ndigbo lambasted the Nigeria Army over statements credited to it that the Chimaobi was killed by gunmen dressed in military camouflage.
The youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation described the army’s comment as an assault to Ndigbo.
The governor had been quoted as saying that one Cpl. Ajayi had been arrested in connection with the killing of the cyclist.
The slain cyclist, Chimaobi Nworgu was allegedly shot dead following his refusal to offer N100 bribe to a military officer at a checkpoint.
In a statement on Friday, by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB said the death of Chimaobi represented a watershed, and that no amount of photo opportunity or public relations would diminish the fact.
The statement read in part: “It is unbelievable that Okezie Ikpeazu and the Police Commissioner in Abia State announced the arrest of the killer soldiers involved in the death of Chimaobi Nworgu.
“Nobody has ever seen any picture or video of the murderers as is customary with Nigerian Police anytime they arrest suspects in high profile cases.
“No news conference where their full names, ranks and division they are serving in the army were made public. Biafrans must know there is no iota of truth in the widely circulated lie that those soldiers responsible for the death of Chimaobi are in custody.’’
In its statement signed by the national President, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the Ohaneze youths said: “We are shocked by the compromised and distorted statement marred with deceptive intentions credited to the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 82 Division Aliyu Yusuf, that the killing was perpetrated by gunmen in military camouflage.
“It is the height of assault on Ndigbo. The military should apologize to Ndigbo as we have uncovered from intelligence report that Cpl Ajayi was arrested on Wednesday trying to flee and he’s currently detained. This contradicts the earlier falsehood dished out to deceive the public.
“We laud Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his timely intervention to halt further violent protests that would have led to reprisal attacks on the military by Biafra agitators and angry Igbo youths over the untimely death of Chimaobi.
“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari as a matter of urgency to give a matching order to redeploy all the military leadership in the South East.
“As Ndigbo await the unreserved apology from the military, we call on aggrieved persons, youths and Biafra agitators to shelve any planned violent protests or reprisals attacks as Abia State government had brought succour to the deceased family.”
