“I learnt they were arrested by men of the DSS and the police. “Right now, I don’t know how many of them that were arrested; I also don’t know where they took them to,” Ugwu said.”
Several members of the Biafra Zionists Federation, BZF, were early Monday morning reportedly arrested in Enugu.
The pro-Biafra agitators were nabbed alongside their self-acclaimed leader, Barr. Benjamin Onwuka.
A combined team of security operatives made up of the Department of State Services, DSS, and the Nigeria Police were said to have been involved in the operation.
They were arrested after another failed attempt to enter the Enugu Government House for the inauguration of Biafra.
A source hinted that they had marched from the Presidential Road, through Rangers Avenue, but was stopped at the Bissala Road entry to the Government House by security operatives.
Deputy Leader of the group, Mazi Ambrose Ugwu, who confirmed the arrest to journalists, said, “our people were prevented from entering the Enugu Government House, after which they were arrested and taken away.
“I learnt they were arrested by men of the DSS and the police. “Right now, I don’t know how many of them that were arrested; I also don’t know where they took them to,” Ugwu said.
The Enugu State Police Command had earlier on Sunday warned the Zionists not to get close the Enugu Government House as they would be made to face the law squarely.
Onwuka had also on May 30 made a similar attempt, leading to his arrest and remand in prison. But 24 hours after his release, he announced August 20 as the new date for his Biafra inauguration, claiming that the United States and Israel were behind him.
Both the Police and the DSS are yet to issue official statements on the reported arrest.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Enugu Police Command, SP Ebere Amaraizu, when contacted, said he should be given some time.
However, armoured personnel carriers and security operatives were still stationed within the roads leading to the Enugu Government House as of the time of filing this report.
