Nineteen men suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have been arrested by the police Rivers State for arson.
The suspects were accused of setting three goods laden trucks ablaze in Komkom area of Oyigbo Local Government Area (LGA) of the state in the early hours of yesterday.
The leadership of IPOB had directed members and supporters to observe a one day sit-at-home in remembrance of the alleged disappearance of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Spokesman of the state police command, Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), told The Nation on the phone that three vehicles were destroyed and burnt down by the members of the outlawed IPOB at Oyigbo, following the said sit-at-home order.”
He said the arrested men would be prosecuted “the moment we are through with our investigations.”
Omoni said IPOB “does not exist in the eyes of the law. Therefore, that their so called leaders gave them order to sit-at-home is, in the first place, illegal. And the fact that they came out to cause violence and destroy people’s property is a bigger issue.
“As far as Nigeria is concerned, there is no association like IPOB.”
There was partial compliance with the sit at home order in Port Harcourt.
It was noticeable at Oyigbo, which has a large concentration of Igbo traders.
Some banks in Oyigbo and parts of Port Harcourt were also shut for fear of being attacked by hoodlums.