Following the April 27 date set aside by the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for the enforcement of the ban on open grazing and beef consumption in the South East, gunmen on Saturday abducted 10 members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Anambra State with 300 cows.
POLITICS NIGERIA learned that subsequently, the armed men demanded N4m ransom and a gun from families of their abductees.
According to Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, the South East Chairman of MACBAN, the incident happened at Obene Community in Ogbaru Local Government Area (LGA) around 1:30am today.
Anambra police spokesman Ikenga Tochukwu confirmed the incident.
Earlier this month, gunmen have invaded the Igboukwu Cattle Market in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State and killed over 20 cows and goats.
Violence has flared in the southeastern states since last year. Gunmen have killed at least 150 police or members of the security services, according to the police. About 30 police stations and election commission offices have been attacked, local media have reported.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), an outlawed movement seeking independence for ethnic Igbo of the region, and its armed wing Eastern Security Network (ESN) have been blamed for the violence, but IPOB has denied the charges.
