Activities at the Asaba-Benin expressway of the Delta state capital were interrupted for hours during protest staged by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Chanting songs and demanding for the unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu, a member of the Pro –Biafra group, the protesters blocked a large portion of the ever-busy road, from Summit Junction to Coker Junction axis in Asaba.
They held up vehicular movement on the road for hours, forcing many transporters to make a U-turn, diverting into Asaba main town, thereby causing a major gridlock.
The police had to use teargas to disperse them, while some of the protesters were arrested.
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A police source told NAN that those arrested were later released following “an order from above”.
One of the protesters, Uche Obiakor, told NAN that the police intervention in the rally was injustice to the group, saying that members of IPOB were on a peaceful rally.
“What the police did today is a great injustice to the Biafra people because we are not armed neither did we attack anybody,” he said.
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“We are just on a peaceful protest for the unconditional release of our leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
“We want Nnamdi Kanu to be set free, and all charges against him dropped unconditionally.”
Charles Muka, spokesman of the state police command, confirmed the incident to NAN but declined to comment on the arrest and subsequent release of the IPOB members.
“What I can tell you is that the police are on top of the situation. We are on it; that is all I can say for now,” he said
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