The police in Abia state has arraigned 10 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) before a magistrate court in Umuahia. The IPOB members, the police said were arrested for instigating a clash between the group and soldier of the 14 Brigade Ohafia on Monday, September 4, at the popular Isigate in Umuahia. The suspects - 10 tricycle (Keke Napep) operators - were arraigned before Chief Magistrate L. Ugbaja on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit felony to wit, riotous assembly.

The offence, NAIJ.com gathered, is punishable under section 516A of the criminal code law cap 80, Vol- 3 laws of Abia state 2005. The suspects include: Maduka Okoro, 42; Kelechi C. Okoro 29; Onyekachi Eyera 33; David Eke 38; Udochukwu Omekara 34 and Chinedu Ogbonna, 25. Others are Chukwudi Mmesoroonye, 24; Okwudiri Nwagwu, 41; Ihedigbo Monday, 45 and Sunday Eze, 25.

Other charges leveled against the suspects include; act to commit a misdemeanor and malicious damage to property; taking part in riotous act; willfully and unlawfully breaking the wind shield of a Hilux vehicle property of the Nigerian army; resisting arrest and injuring a private soldier Eze Kenneth. But in his argument, counsel to the suspects G. I. Chionye said the soldiers have no business being at Isigate extorting money from motorists. Chinonye while applying for bail also argued that the offence is bailable.

Having heard the argument, the Chief Magistrate the suspects bail of N400,000 each and sureties whom will produce the same amount of money. The Chief Magistrate also ordered that the sureties must tender before the court evidence of three years tax clearance. He further adjourned the matter to Monday, September 18, for hearing. NAIJ.com earlier reported that there was a clash between soldiers and some members of the IPOB at the Isigate in Umuahia. The clash began after a disagreement between the soldiers at the checkpoint and a commercial tricycle operator. Members of the IPOB said the soldiers shot at and injured some individuals who had remained peaceful at the scene of the clash. They also appealed to the Nigerian Army to release their members who were arrested by the soldiers during the clash.

Read more: https://www.naij.com/1124127-abia-police-arraign-10-keke-napep-operators-clash-soldiers.html

Having heard the argument, the Chief Magistrate the suspects bail of N400,000 each and sureties whom will produce the same amount of money. The Chief Magistrate also ordered that the sureties must tender before the court evidence of three years tax clearance. He further adjourned the matter to Monday, September 18, for hearing.

Na to go sell their keke which is their source of livelihood to pay for the bail be that.

But Umuahia has always been a peaceful place,