Police in Anambra State have intercepted a gunrunner conveying rifles meant for secessionists who planned to use them to enforce a sit-at-home exercise on May 30.

SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, who disclosed this, said the success of the operation was made possible by intelligence gathered by men of the command.

He said: “Anambra police operatives today, May 23, 2024, by 11:30 am, intercepted a gang member of a notorious gun-running syndicate in Onitsha, and recovered seven brand new Jojef magnum pump-action guns concealed in a bag.

“This breakthrough is following the practical intelligence and tact-led policing strategy of the Commissioner of Police Nnaghe Obono Itam, to frustrate criminal plans, especially on the intel (intelligence) received over time about planned attacks by unlawful groups and secessionists to enforce illegal sit-at-home on May 30, 2024.”

A secessionist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, had recently declared May 30 as Heroes Day to honour the souls of those departed during the civil war.

The group warned that the day would be marked by staying at home and that anyone found violating the order would be dealt with. It also wrote to the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and Nnamdi Azikiwe University to cancel its examination and proposed convocation, respectively, which were scheduled for that day.

Ikenga, describing how the gunrunner was intercepted, said: “The operatives laid ambush at the identified location at Creek Road, Onitsha and the gunrunner, on sighting the police, abandoned the bag and took to his heels.”

He said Commissioner of Police Itam has directed a manhunt for the suspect and his gang members while calling on Anambra citizens to sustain the provision of security information, assuring that police will continue to act on them.