Imo Tensions: Police and Ebubeagu Burn Home of Thaddeus Obidiegwu in Raid on IPOB Suspect

A joint security operation by Nigerian police and members of the Ebubeagu security outfit has resulted in the burning of the family home of Thaddeus Amuzienwa Obidiegwu, a man accused by authorities of being a senior figure in the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The early morning raid took place on Sunday in Umuocheta village, located in Amiri, Imo State. According to residents, heavily armed operatives stormed the compound in a convoy before setting the building ablaze. Mr Obidiegwu was not at home at the time.

His elderly mother and two grandchildren were inside the house during the operation but managed to escape without injury. They have since been displaced and are reportedly taking refuge in a local church.

“They stormed the compound before sunrise. There were gunshots, shouting, and then the fire. The whole house was gone within minutes,” an eyewitness told the BBC.

Attempts to reach the Imo State Police Command for comment were unsuccessful. However, a senior officer attached to the Zone 9 Police Command in Umuahia, speaking anonymously, confirmed the raid. He described it as part of a broader crackdown aimed at disrupting IPOB’s command structure in the southeast.

IPOB has been campaigning for the secession of southeastern Nigeria to form an independent Biafran state. It was designated a terrorist group by the Nigerian government in 2017. Although the group insists its activities are peaceful, authorities have accused it of being behind a wave of attacks targeting security personnel and public facilities.

Human rights organisations have raised concerns over the conduct of joint security operations in the region. The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has called for an independent investigation into Sunday’s raid, citing reports of arson, arbitrary arrests, and harassment of civilians.

Speaking to reporters in the aftermath, Mrs Obidiegwu, the mother of the wanted man, said: “My grandchildren are now sleeping in a church. Our home is gone. We don’t know what we did to deserve this.”

The incident has added to growing tensions in the Orlu zone of Imo State, which has become a hotspot in the continuing agitation for Biafran independence.

Mr Obidiegwu’s current location remains unknown. Security services describe him as a key operative within IPOB’s network, allegedly coordinating activities across Imo and neighbouring states.