The Cross River Police Command has reportedly taken three alleged members of the prohibited Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) into custody.
This was revealed by Sule Balarabe, the state police commissioner, during a parade of the suspects who had been detained by the command between August and November.
The suspected IPOB members were named by the Commissioner as Richard Ukehad, 29, Esther Asado, 29, and Chief Isaac Ebebe, 44.
He claimed that the suspects were apprehended at their camp in the Bebe III community of the state’s Obanliku Local Government Area, in response to an intelligence report.
He said, “On the strength of the information, the military, in collaboration with Anti-Cultism/kidnapping squad, swung into action and the three were arrested.”
The commissioner claimed that four bomb devices, two suspected explosive chemicals, charms, two Danish firearms, a Biafra uniform, a Biafra flag, an axe, a dagger, a Police beret, and a live cartridge had all been discovered at their camp.
According to Balarabe, the suspects will be charged in court when the investigation into the case is over.
The commissioner added that within the same period, one person was also detained for armed robbery and kidnapping, while two people were apprehended for illegally possessing firearms.
He revealed that 200 rounds of AK47 rifle ammunition and two AK47 rifles, which belonged to the kidnappers, had been confiscated by the command.
The Commissioner warned politicians against using violence and any other illegal actions that could jeopardize the peace in Cross River while vowing to cleanse the state of crime and criminality both during and after the holiday season.
He said, “The command, therefore, warns all political parties, their candidates and supporters, to play by the rule and abide by all the laws guiding the election process in the country as infractions would not be tolerated.”
