By ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA
7th January, 2019
The fate of more than 100 young men of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) charged by the Nigeria Army over their alleged involvement in the Biafra agitation hangs in the balance at the court while the search for one James Nwachukwu, a financier, Leader of IPOB and a father of two as well as a farmer from Isu village in Ebonyi State is presently unknown and is causing tension as at the time of this report, today 7th January, 2019.
It was revealed that James Nwachukwu one of the suspects believed to be an IPOB kingpin among other leaders are currently on the run to evade arrest by security agents believed to be on their trail.
It was reported that James Nwachukwu was among the young men who Joined the IPOB group in 2014, in order to support the struggle for the fight of their freedom and right for the State of Biafra.
According to one youth who spoke to the Pointer correspondent on condition of anonymity said James Nwachukwu became the IPOB leaders Isu Community in Ebonyi State in 2018.
It was revealed that upon return of their National Leader Nnamdi Kanu to Nigeria on October, 14, 2015. He was arrested in Lagos by the Nigeria Government.
The Nigeria Government vehemently refused to release Nnamdi Kanu even though various courts granted him bail but was held down on the order of the Federal Government though there was no evidence against him.
According to a reliable source, the refusal of the government to release their leader led to strong protests by members of the IPOB across the country. Upon his release a yearly protest was announced by all camp leaders of IPOB.
Based on the yearly protest in December, 19, 2018, military personnel stormed the area with an armoured vehicle on January, 6, 2019, and were resisted by James Nwachukwu and others members of the pro Biafra group in Isu village in Ebonyi State through demonstration.
Reports from the Spokesman of IPOB states that some IPOB members were alleged to have been shot in the process while 5 youths were killed and about 30 were injured. James Nwachukwu, Chibuike Azuka, Paul Okeleke, Obinna Okonkwor, Ikechukwu Paul and Fine Victor among others escaped from the invaders.
He alleged that the soldiers and Police came with a mission to arrest and kill the youths who were requesting for their freedom and that of their National Leader.
“The Soldiers and Policemen came to kill our young men because they are agitating for the State of Biafra and freedom for their National Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, they started shooting sporadically and killed 5 people while about 30 persons sustaind bullet wounds, after attacking the people they drove off”.
“They came with 5 Hilux pick up vans, the army killed so many people and they were determined to arrest James Nwachukwu but he narrowly escaped” …. the Spokesman said.
However from a reliable source, James Nwachukwu escaped to Lagos State.On getting to Lagos he was reliably informed never to return to the village as he life was no longer safe in Nigeria.
According to feelers,James Nwachukwu is reported to have fled to Lagos, Benin Republic (cotonou) he is believed to be in one of the African Countries with a different Identity.