The Association of Western Igbo Traders in Lagos has raised the alarm that the indigenous people of Biafra (ipob) special squad has infiltrated the state with the aim of causing crisis and disaffection among Yorubas and Igbos.
The group in a statement signed by Chief Levinus Obiakor and John Ishekwene said the ipob squad, led by a retired Soldier, Nnamdi Okereke has designed to kill fellow unsuspecting Igbo ahead of the election in order to seek sympathy and portray the Igbo as being attacked by Yorubas.
“The SQUARD has the mandate to attack Igbo markets and burn them. The strategy is to invoke sympathy for Igbo ahead of the election.”
“The mandate is to cause enough crisis and disaffection among Yoruba and Igbo with the hope that many Yoruba and Igbo will sympathise and vote for Labour Party which they seem to be supporting.”
“The IPOB SPECIAL SQUARD are about 97 well trained men made up of some retired Igbo soldiers, civilians and retired police ratings who belong to the IPOB Western Command with its headquarters in Asaba.”
“They also have designed to kill fellow unsuspecting Igbo ahead of the election in order to seek sympathy and portray the Igbo as being attacked by Yoruba.”
“15 major markets have been marked for attacks. They will also attack Yoruba markets leaving the impression that Igbos are fighting back to spur Yoruba into counter attacks.”
“This is a plan to cause national crisis and scuttle the outcome of the last Presidential election while preventing or scuttling the Governorship election come Saturday.”
The alarm is coming on the heels of the discovery of 1,671 Permanent Voters Cards, PVCs, in an apartment in the Olodi-Apapa area of Lagos State by personnel of the Nigerian Army.
ValidView Network gathered that three persons were arrested in the apartment, while the prime suspect was said to be on the run.
The Brigade Commander, 9 Brigade, Brig. Gen. Isang Akpaumontia, who paraded the suspects and recovered PVCs, ballot papers and other items before journalists at the Ikeja Cantonment, said the arrest and recovery were made following a tip-off.
According to the Brigade commander most of the recovered PVCs had the year 2022 as the registration number, while others had years 2011, 2012 and 2021 with all the owners being residents of Lagos State.
“Earlier today (yesterday), three young men were arrested with 1,671 PVCs. This was after early information was received. With the support of the Department of State Services, DSS, we were able to arrest them.
“They were arrested with some drugs, dagger, charms and over 1,000 PVCs. They were arrested at the Apapa general area, in a house where we traced them to. The owner of the house, who is the prime suspect, was traced to a hotel but he took off.”
