The Anambra State Police Command has arrested Friday Obeta, a 37-year-old member of the proscribed Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, for allegedly planning to enforce the May 30 sit-at-home order declared by pro-Biafran groups.
The sit-at-home directive was issued to commemorate Biafran heroes who died during the 1967-1970 civil war.
In a statement on Wednesday, the command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed Obeta’s arrest by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad in Nnewi. The police recovered a motorcycle, a branded t-shirt, and an operational identification card belonging to the banned group from the suspect.
Ikenga stated: “Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Nnewi Sector, acting on credible information on how the proscribed Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra has set out plans to enforce sit-at-home on May 30, 2025, arrested one Friday Obeta, aged 37 years, and recovered one motorcycle, a branded t-shirt, and an operational identification card of the proscribed organisation.
“The suspect confessed to being a member and an informant for the proscribed group and has made useful information that is aiding the investigation for the possible arrest of other gang members.”
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has directed operatives to intensify operations following Obeta’s confessions.
“To this end, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, charged the operatives to intensify their onslaught operations, given the suspect’s confessions.
“He further urged them to step up surveillance operations to thwart any unlawful gathering in the state,” the statement added.
