The Jewish worshipers arrested at Nnamdi Kanu’s house (Photo:NationalHelm)
Armed policemen yesterday arrested 21 Jewish worshipers in Nnamdi
Kanu’s residence in Afara Ukwu in Abia State, a report by DailyTrust
revealed.
It was gathered that the adherents had gone to the community to
perform some Jewish prayers and rites but were intercepted by the police
during the activity.
The incident forced members of the organization to protest at the
state command of the Nigerian Police demanding the release of the
arrested members.
Media and Publicity Secretary for the Indigenous People of Biafra
(IPOB) Comrade Emma Powerful confirmed the arrest in a statement.
He said “Some of the Jewish worshippers have been abducted and taken to unknown places, for easy execution.
“We are calling on men and women of good conscience, the US
embassy and all civilised nations to see reasons to fight and stop these
barbaric moves against religious intolerance in Nigeria. “
He added that the only crime of the worshippers was to pray and
spiritually sanctify the residence of the IPOB leader, whose whereabouts
remained unknown.
A police source told Guardian: “These people’s (Jewish)
religion is not recognised by Nigeria and they were dressed somehow and
were just shouting Shalom Shalom when police stopped them to question
their mode of dressing.”
Meanwhile, some Jewish leaders, who gathered around the state
police headquarters, alleged that their detained colleagues were “beaten
seriously and their Jewish robes torn off before they were thrown into
cell.
”One of the members, Ima Nwachukwu, said the adherents were only “performing their religious obligations”
and wondered why the police should arrest them.He, however, called on
the Commissioner of Police to intervene and order the immediate release
of the adherents.