From Osakhare Erese Asaba
Suspected Biafra members otherwise known as IPOB members in the early hours of Monday attacked Nigeria’s flags of “Green White Green” hoisted around Nnebisi road in Asaba, Delta State and set the flags ablaze.
The suspected IPOB members clad in red attires around Umuagu Quarters, sing war songs, and drummed in Ibo language after they had allegedly made lives unbearable for the Nigeria flags hoisters.
Though, no life was lost in the attack, but the victims who claimed they are members of the Christ Embassy Church in Asaba sustained degrees of injuries in their bodies.
It was gathered that these suspected groups of IPOB members had on Sunday threatened there will be no celebration of Independence in Asaba, adding that 58 years of Nigeria’s Independence was a waste and disaster, especially with the alleged high handedness of President Muhammadu Buhari.
But for the intervention of policeman from ‘A’ Division Police Station, the made of melee of attack initiated by the suspected IPOB members, would have turned bloody.
One of the attackers, James Udoh who spoke to journalists said: “I will not tell if we are Biafra or not, but what are we celebrating? Nigeria is a disaster, failed country, Buhari should resign now, and let us have a new president, we set the flags ablaze because Nigeria is not a country”.
Speaking to journalists, the Police Commissioner in the state, Mustafa Muhammad confirmed that four of the suspected IPOB members were arrested, adding that they would be charged to court for taking laws into their hands.
He said: “upon interrogation, the suspects admitted they attacked the flag hoisters, it is strictly an offence, and they will be charged to court on completion of investigation”.
One of the victims, Dennis Nwani who spoke to journalists said: “every year at the Christ Embassy, we distribute bibles hoist Nigeria’s Flag of Green White Green, so we came to the area to share bibles and hoist the green white green flags of Nigeria when the suspects descended on us”.
Motorists and traders who wore long faces during the attack said there was nothing to celebrate, adding that Nigeria’s 58thIndependence portended hunger, starvation and poor leadership.
In the melee, passer-bys who tried to catch a glimpse of the ugly trend scampered into the thin air when the police arrived the scene to put the situation under control.
