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Two dead as DSS, IPOB members clash
Two persons are believed to be dead and operatives of the Directorate of State Security Service (DSS) missing following a clash with members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The clash, which reportedly started between the DSS and IPOB members holding a meeting in Emene, Enugu lasted for several hours.
It was learnt that the police and army were mobilised to give back up to the DSS operatives.
It was revealed that men of the DSS had gone to Emene to stop an IPOB meeting when the fight ensued.
As the clash lasted the police and army were deployed to help salvage the situation.
Unspecified operatives of DSS were reported to have gone missing while about two persons were feared dead.
The Enugu state Police PRO, ASP Daniel Ekea, couldn’t be reached for comments as several calls to his line were not picked.
DSS said two of its personnel were killed in what they called an unprovoked attack, while IPOB, in a statement, said 21 of their members were killed and more than 40 others arrested after security forces stormed one of their meetings.
DSS did not immediately respond to queries on IPOB member deaths. IPOB described itself as a peaceful group and denied killing any DSS agents.
IPOB leaders have called for secession in the region, where tensions have simmered since a Biafra separatist rebellion sparked a civil war in 1967-70 that killed an estimated one million people.
In 2017, Nigeria’s armed forces designated IPOB as a “terrorist organisation” after it stepped up calls for secession.
