TheCable

The Abia state police command says it will disrupt the funeral of the parents of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), if members of the group attend the event.

A federal high court in Abuja had declared the activities of IPOB as acts of terrorism, following an application filed by Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF).

Speaking with The Sun, Ene Okon, Abia commissioner of police, said the burial of Eze Kanu and his wife, king and queen of Afaraukwu, will not take place with the presence of IPOB members.

He said he had informed the traditional prime minister of Afaraukwu that the police would provide security for the funeral if only IPOB members do not show up.

“I have already reached out to the traditional prime minister of Afaraukwu (Nnamdi Kanu’s community) and told him that if they want the burial to go smoothly and for police to give them security, they should tell IPOB not to near the area not to talk of participating in the burial,” he said.

“If they fail to adhere to what we’ve told them, that means they do not want the burial to go on smoothly because we are going to scatter the place. IPOB is proscribed by the federal government. I, as the commissioner of police in Abia cannot sit here and allow any proscribed group to operate anywhere in this state.

“I am saying this again for emphasis that there is no way police will allow a proscribed group to participate in the burial of the king and queen of Afaraukwu simply because they are the parents of their acclaimed leader, we will not allow that and we cannot take anything for granted in the face of abundant intelligence on threat by IPOB.”

The CP said members can attend the event individually, but that the police would react if IPOB flag, insignia or any form of identification is seen.

He said the police will not allow IPOB members disguising as members of Jewish or Zionist Church entry into Umuahia, the state capital.

The funeral has been scheduled for February 14.