Fifty individuals accused of being members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are reportedly currently languishing in correctional centres in Aba, Afaraukwu and other places.
These individuals who are residents of Ebonyi, Abia, Imo, Enugu and Anambra states were arrested after police raided their areas.
According to SaharaReporters who obtained the names of the individuals, they have not been arraigned or charged for any crime since their arrests and detention.
In a report compiled by an Anambra State-based civil group, Intersociety for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, about 30 residents were clamped in prison without trial, the whereabouts of others could not be traced as the family members and human rights lawyers continue to search for the locations the security agencies took them to.
The group called on the authorities to “unconditionally release the residents who are labelled as IPOB members.”
According to the report, the suspected IPOB members rotting in prisons are identified as: “Ebonyi State 1. Ogbonna Jeremiah 2. Nwogo Nwulegu, 3. Nenwa Oghonna, 4. Nwobodo Nwinya, 5. Ogbonna Samson, 6. Obinna Nwojiji Ezeh, 7. Chubuike Nwoba, 8. Nwali Joseph, 9. Jude Mbam, 10. Naza Ogbonna, 11. Chibueze Nwali, 12. Edwin Ogbonna (abducted and killed).
“Abia State: 13. Chukwuma, the Coordinator of St Paul’s Zone in Osisioma, arrested on the 26th of April 2021, 14. Emmanuel Ikechukwu, Coordinator of Stadium road zone in Aba South LGA, arrested on 8th of June 2021, 15. Chidiadi Dominic, a volunteer from Nsirimo Zone in Umuahia South, arrested on 4th of June 2021. State CID, Abakiliki: 16. Eze Daniel Obinna, 17. Offorbuike Nwambam, 18. Okorie Solomon, 19. Ikechukwu Igboke.
“Other suspects in Ebonyi: Ama Otti (from Ekoli-Edda), 21. Orji Obasi (from Nguzu-Edda), 22. Okoro Olughu (from Ndi Olughu Edda), 23. Awah Ebube (from Ikwo), 24.Paul Ogbonna (from Uburu-Ohaozara), 25. Elom Daniel, 26. Basil Chukwudi, 27. Omenga Nwanne Nkpo and 28. Monday Chikaodi. Abia State: 29. Ejike Aniadi, 34 years old (from Okija, Anambra State), abducted by police on 19th April, 2021 in Aba, 30. Ibeleme Tochukwu, 35 years old, from Obibiochasi in Imo State, arrested on 15th June, 2021.
“Abandoned without trial At Aba prisons are: 31. Michael Tochukwu Orji, 32.Onwumere Nwokeke, 33.Chimezie Eze, 34. Paul Oga, 35. Anyazue Chukwudi, 36. Nwode Uchechukwu, 37. Ekene Okafor, 38. Ekene Egwu, 39. Chijioke Eze Okeke, 40. Eze Solomon, 41. Ugochukwu Okafor, 42. Eze Mercy, 43. Ucha Sunday, 44. Chidubem Agu, 45. Nnadozie Ndubuisi, 46. Ayigbo Osita, 47. Ifeoma Igwe, 48. Chimee Jideofor.
Also, abandoned without trial at Afaraukwu Prison are: 49. Prince John, 50. Ugochukwu Umeh, abducted on 23rd April and taken to Mogadishu Barracks, Abuja, with five others.”
This article was originally published on Nigeria News