THE Police on Tuesday declared Ifeanyi Ejiofor, lawyer of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu, wanted.
It is in connection with the death of two policemen who were allegedly killed by IPOB supporters at the Nkwo area of Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State on Monday.
IPOB on Tuesday denied the killings.
Kanu had alleged that Ejiofor’s Oraifite home was invaded by policemen and soldiers, with three IPOB members killed and others injured.
On Tuesday, Anambra State Commissioner of Police John Abang, at a briefing in Awka, the state capital, said Ejiofor was wanted in connection with the killings.
He said: “I’ll like Nigerians to know that Ifeanyi Ejiofor (a member of the proscribed IPOB) has been declared wanted.
“I’ll seek the cooperation of law-abiding Nigerians, East, West, North and South that wherever they find this individual, they should report to the nearest police station for possible arrest and prosecution based on the rules and laws of Nigeria.”
Police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, said the two policemen were killed by suspected IPOB members while others were inflicted with machete cuts.
He said: “On December 2, 019 at about 11:30 am, there was a formal complaint against one Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor ‘m’ (a member of the proscribed IPOB) in Oraifite on alleged case of abduction, assault occasioning harm and malicious damage to property.
“Following the report, Police Patrol teams led by the Area Commander, Oraifite ACP Oliver Abbey, mobilised and rushed to the scene to arrest the suspect who declined Police invitation.
“However, as soon as Police arrived at the house, armed men suspected to be IPOB members descended on the Police, set ablaze one Patrol vehicle and attacked them with rifles and machetes.
“As a result of the attack, two police officers whose identities are being withheld were killed by the suspected IPOB members while others were inflicted with machete cuts.
“The injured personnel were rushed to the hospital for medical attention and are presently receiving treatment.
“Consequently, the Command deployed reinforcements from the State Headquarters, comprising of PMF, SARS and Special Anti-Cult Units in conjunction with the Army/other sister agencies, who cordoned off the area to fish out the culprits.
“Joint patrol is still ongoing in the town to prevent further breakdown of law and order.
“Some arrests were made. The Commissioner of Police John Abang who is on his way to the scene has vowed to bring perpetrators of this dastardly act to justice.”
But, IPOB accused the police of setting Ejiofor’s home ablaze.
In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group wondered why the Police would raze the lawyer’s home after killing two unarmed and innocent civilians.
IPOB said: “The unprovoked Nigeria police and army invasion of the home of our lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor barely four days after the painful burial of his senior brother is proof that those running Nigeria have descended into the abyss of iniquity from which they may never recover.
“Not even during the darkest days of Abacha’s dictatorship did anyone witness such brazen intimidation of a legal counsel or the attempted assassination of a defence counsel in a high profile case.
“It is the golden rule of every legal system under the sun that defence counsel are not harassed, intimidated or killed but it seems nothing is sacrosanct in the present circumstance.
“We don’t expect the roundly docile and cowardly Nigeria Bar Association or their impotent and subdued National Judicial Council to rise in condemnation of this contemptuous behaviour by Aso Rock in this latest attempt to kill Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor.
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