Allegations of IPOB membership: A businessman alleges a threat to his life

Mr Ikechukwu Onyegbuna, a popular businessman and pharmacist based in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, has accused security agents in the state of harassing him for his alleged membership in the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

Onyegbuna, who raised the alarm on Thursday while speaking with reporters in Yenagoa, claimed that security agents had been constantly intimidating, victimizing, and harassing him.

He stated that he had lived in Bayelsa State for many years and had been conducting business without becoming involved in the agitation for Biafra or other secessionist movements.

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Onyegbuna stated, “I have recently observed that some security operatives are hounding me and making life unbearable for me.”

“Because of the harassment and threats to my life, I have gone into hiding and am unable to move freely to conduct my legal and thriving business, which is my source of income.

“My ordeal at the hands of security operatives is a result of the crisis in Oyigbo and Orlu, as well as IPOB’s recent sit-at-home order in the Southeast and the arrest of IPOB members in parts of the Southsouth. “I have no ties to the crisis.”

He pleaded with all relevant authorities to intervene and save his life, which was in the hands of security operatives.

However, state police said Onyegbuna had not reported the incident.

Asinim Butswat, spokesman for the Bayelsa State Police Command, stated that because he had not reported the incident, the police would not act on it.