What Police Did to IPOB Members Who Allegedly Set Anambra Police Station on Fire

An early morning fire Thursday razed down a police station in Ajalli, Orumba North local government area of Anambra State.

The mystery fire did not also spare patrol vehicles that were parked in the compound of the police station, as two of them were burnt down, just as suspect detained in the station's cell were said to have escaped.

Though the cause of the fire was not immediately ascertained, some resident of the community who preferred to speak under the cover of anonymity said the fire may have been ignited by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB as they had passed by the station, chanting anti election songs.

The source said the group who passed by the station shortly before dawn were chanting that no election would hold in the entire Biafraland.

But the state  Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Haruna Mohammed who spoke to journalists said it is a case of mere fire incident and not an attack as suspected. He said the the police command would have no reason to suspect attack, except investigation proved so.

He said, "It's a case of Fire incident for now until Contrary is proved through discreet investigation.

"The Commissioner of Police CP Mustapha Dandaura is presently at the scene for on the spot assessment.

"He ordered the DC Department of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department to conduct a thorough investigation in order to ascertain circumstances surrounding the incident please."

But in its reaction, The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has however denied that it has a hand in the fire incident that gutted the police station.

Emma Powerful spokesperson of IPOB said, "It is unfortunate that Ajalli Police Station, in (Orumba North) and few individuals would stooped too low by linking a peaceful movement like IPOB in the recent fire out break that burnt down their station without a meaningful investigations.

"IPOB members have no hands in the fire incidence that destroyed so many vehicles within the station. IPOB is a rooted movement and must continue on its stance of non-violent approach. Anybody involving a peaceful movement like IPOB with this recent fire incident in Orumba North is an evil and cannot be forgiven by Heaven and Earth."

The group added that it is surprising that suspects who were being detained in the police station were currently under torture because they are members of IPOB, and were suspected to have ignited the fire.