Chiwetalu Agu Arrested for Supporting IPOB- Army
Chiwetalu Agu Arrested for Supporting IPOB– Army.
The Nigerian Army says Nollywood Actor, Chiwetalu Agu, was arrested for soliciting support for the (IPOB) Indigenous People of Biafra.
Army Spokesman, Onyema Nwachukwu, said this in a statement on Thursday titled, ‘Troops Arrest Chiwetalu Agu While Soliciting Support for Proscribed IPOB’.
The army claimed that contrary to reports, the actor was not brutalised but only detained.
The statement read in part, “Troops of Nigerian Army have arrested one Chiwetalu Agu while inciting members of the public and soliciting for support for the proscribed IPOB.
“Dressed in a very well known attire of the proscribed group, Chiwetalu Agu was picked up for questioning while inviting members of the public to join the proscribed group. Though he attempted putting up some resistance when troops made effort to take him into custody, he was not assaulted or subjected to brutalisation.”
The army said while it recognises the inalienable rights of Nigerians to freedom of movement and expression as enshrined in the constitution, it is a violation for any individual or group to incite the public to cause mayhem or break down of law and order.
“It is, therefore, pertinent to state that while exercising such freedoms, it must be done within the confines of the law, bearing in mind the imperative for peace, and national security,” it said.
It said Agu had clearly demonstrated an uncharitable disposition to negate peace and security in the region, hence, he is taken into custody for preliminary investigation.
The army added, “It is important to once again place on record that the allegation that he was brutalised is false and should be disregarded accordingly.
You will recall that Soldiers in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Wednesday manhandled Nollywood actor, Chiwetalu Agu, for wearing an outfit with Biafra inscriptions.
In the viral video, 65-year-old Agu is seen around Upper Iweka Bridge donning the Biafra outfit and walking near a green bus when two armed soldiers wrestle him to the ground and drag him.
It was gathered that the actor was in Onitsha on a charity mission where he regularly gifts the less privileged with food items when he was arrested by soldiers.
“He was sharing food with some less privileged persons at Upper Iweka when the soldiers approached him and arrested him. He was manhandled and arrested and taken to their barracks,” a source said.
Agu, who is a supporter of the Biafra cause, had, in several videos, criticised the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), for marginalising Igbo.
Nigerian security forces have, in recent times, banned people from donning Biafra outfits, even as the South-East continues to face security challenges.
On Wednesday, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, threatened that the Federal Government would not hesitate to declare a state of emergency in Anambra if the state of security does not improve.
Meanwhile, the Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of the actor.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Ikenga Tochukwu, confirmed the incident, noting, “The command is aware of his arrest at Upper Iweka in Onitsha. But we don’t have details of why he was arrested.”
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