Nnewi traders celebrate as police release 33 of their members arrested in connection with death of inspector

POLICE in Nnewi have released 33 traders that were indiscriminately arrested last month following a clash between members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) and security forces that lead to the death of an inspector.

Last month, the Anambra Police Command paraded 33 men it claimed were members of the secessionist group Ipob in Akwa, the state capital, accusing them of killing a police inspector during a protest. According to the Nigerian Police Force spokesmen Jimoh Moshood, the inspector-general of police Ibrahim Idris, has also asked for the urgent recovery of two AK47 riffles and a Berretta piston allegedly snatched from the slain officer.

He added that the arrested suspects, aged between 17 and 65 years from states across the southeast and Delta State, were accused of engaging in terrorism. However, the suspects said they were mostly traders in Nnewi market who had finished their business for the day and were about to close shop before they were arrested long after the protesting Ipob members had left.

Now, in the absence of any evidence linking any of the arrested men with the killing of the inspector, the police have been forced to release them. Following their release, no fewer than 5,000 traders from the major markets in the area converged on the Agboedo motor spare parts Nkwo Nnewi market, offering praises to God in appreciation for the release of their members.

Chief Gabriel Chibueze, the chairman of Agboedo Motor Spare Parts Dealers Association (AMSPDA), said the gathering was essentially to appreciate God for the unconditional release of their members. He added that the traders were arrested from the eight major markets in the industrial city, expressing worry over the eight days they spent in police custody, regardless of their innocence.

According to Chief Chibueze, the detained members could have spent longer time with the police if not for the relentless efforts of members of his executive and other relevant stakeholders. He refuted reports alleging that one of the traders died in police custody, saying all of them were released hale and hearty.

Chief  Chibueze said: “Ever since their detention, the entire executive have not rested and were fighting for their release. We wrote letters to all authorities concerned, including the inspector-general of police, the commissioner for trade and commerce and our representatives in Abuja, among others.

“We also had to shut the entire markets in the town for three consecutive days in solidarity with our detained members.” Gozie Akudolu, the vice president of the Amalgamated Markets Traders Association added that no money was paid for their release, although he regretted that some went ahead to engage the services of lawyers contrary to his instructions.

Mr Akudolu said: “I’m happy to announce to you that we didn’t pay any dime for their release because I instructed that no lawyer should be engaged in the process. Those who defied the instructions and paid should find a way of going after their money."