IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu
Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu says a detachment of police officers on Saturday evening stormed the entrance gate to the Palace of his father, the late Israel Kanu at Isiama Afara Ukwu Umuahia and started shooting for reasons yet to be ascertained.
Emmanuel said if any member of his family is harmed the police should be held responsible.
According to Vanguard, an eye witness, who simply identified as Michael said that the police officers who arrived, shooting and forcing residents to scamper for safety drove in a Hilux vehicle and came from the premises of the Abia state Commissioner of Police located in the neighborhood.
He said that when accosted the police officers were unable to explain their mission at the IPOB leader's country home, and later went back to their base,
adding that residents are now living under fear and intimidation by security agencies.
In September 2017, the Nigerian Army invaded Kanu’s country home, barely 24 hours after the military announced the start of its second phase of "Operation Python Dance" in the South-Eastern states, forcing the IPOB leader to flee to save his life, a development which the Abia state High Court has condemned.
Again, in October 2020, the IPOB leader drew attention to an early morning invasion of his village by a combined team of the Nigerian Army and the Police, who allegedly harassed and intimidated people in the area.
Recently, the Nigerian Army began a free medical outreach at Afaraukwu Ibeku, the country home of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, as part of the Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) program of its ongoing operation "Exercise Golden Dawn II" in the Southeast region.
According to Brig. Gen. Adegoke Adetuyi, the Commander, 14 Brigade Nigeria Army, Ohafia, the free medical outreach is to assure "the good and loving people of Afaraukwu of Nigerian Army’s genuine concern in their affairs, as exemplified in the readiness of the troops to not only provide adequate security for the people at this Yuletide season but also to support their wellbeing always.”
The Vanguard reports that the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO for Abia State Police Command, Geoffrey Ogbonna when asked about the shooting by the police at the Kanu Palace gate on Saturday said he was not aware of the incident and promised to make inquiries.
Politics and Opinion