Some suspected members of the
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), have allegedly set a mosque ablaze in
Enugu State.
This is coming after the Defense Headquarters labeled the group as a
terrorist organisation, as well as reports that claims their leader,
Nnamdi Kanu has gone into hiding.
Read the full report from 111112017/09/17/biafra-tension-enugu-suspected-ipob-members-set-mosque-ablaze-photos/”>DAILY POST Below;
Daily Post reports that the incident, which occurred at Ogrute, the
capital of Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, has
thrown the residents into panic.
One of the Muslim faithful, who contacted our correspondent from the
area said the attack was carried out early Saturday morning.
“I was sleeping in my house when I started hearing some explosive sounds. I reside very close to the mosque.
“As I rushed out, I saw thick smoke billowing from the mosque. The
fire was too much; it was burning from every corner of the mosque,” he
said.
Asked whether the inferno could have been from power surge, he
retorted: “nothing like power surge in this matter. The entire local
government has no light for several months now.
“There has been a problem between the Enugu Electricity Distribution
Company, EEDC and Ikem community in Isi-Uzo, and this has disrupted
power supply for several months. Prior to that, we don’t even light
here; we were cut off as we couldn’t pay high electricity bill.
“We have the belief that it was carried out by IPOB supporters
because they have done similar thing in other parts of the South-East
since their confrontation with the Nigerian Military began last Monday.”
Meanwhile, the Chief Imam of the Mosque, who confirmed the incident to
DAILY POST, lamented that, “we lost all our items to this unprovoked
attack.
“From our observation, they brought everything together, including
our garments, Holy book, generators, and made sure they all burnt to
ashes together with the mosque.
“This is so strange and provocative as we were not having problem
with anybody prior to this incident. I’m from this community, just like
so many of my members.
“We have been living together with our people peacefully. So, this attack is something we cannot explain.”
While lamenting that their lives were now at stake, they called on the
Enugu State Government and the security agencies to intervene.
Also confirming the incident, the Police Police Relations Officer of
the Enugu State Police Command, SP Ebere Amaraizu told DAILY POST that
“it is true that there was an incident. It occurred around 2am.
“But for now, we are working to reveal identities of those behind the attack. We cannot categorically say that it’s Mr A or B.
“We are one, regardless of religious background and people must stop taking laws into their hands.
“The situation is under control, our men are on ground to maintain law and order.”
DAILY POST equally learnt that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has visited the area.
Ugwuanyi donated the sum of N1million for rebuilding of the mosque.