Tragedy was averted during the 3rd edition of the Aba Half Marathon last Sunday at the Enyimba international Stadium, Aba when members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) invaded the stadium, singing Biafra songs, waving flags and Nnamdi Kanu’s portraits.
Recall that the 21.5km Aba Half marathon was sponsored by a local radio station, MAGIC 102.9Fm owned by ex House of Representatives member and now Abia state Works Commissioner, Hon. Eziuche, in partnership with the state government.
Earlier at the gate of the stadium along School road, IPOB members had a stand off with security agents who attempted to stop them from gaining access, but they forced their way,leading to organizers hurriedly leaving some parts of the scheduled events to round off.
The situation caused tension at the scene as the dignitaries and organizers of the marathon were enveloped with fear as the IPOB members took over the entire VIP area and in the confusion, some seat were broken.
To arrest the sitaution, the Local Organizing Committee,(LOC) of the Marathon engaged a group of hoodlums known as ‘Colombia Boys’ to disperse the rampaging IPOB members, but the strategy fell as the Biafra emblems rent the air at all corners of the stadium. The Colombia Boys were later seen outside the stadium lamenting that they were not paid for ‘services’ rendered to the organizers.
247ureports.com sources gathered that the dignitaries including the Abia state Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Chinwe Nwanganga,his Works counterpart, Eziuche Ubani, Chairman of the Aba Half Marathon, Chief Solomon Nwaigwe, Speaker of the State Assembly, House Committee chairman on Sports, Hon. Solomon Akpulonu, among others, were scared as IPOB members defied security agents and marched to where they were seated.
The IPOB boys were determined to prove a point as they started hauling stones on soldiers who were drafted to provide cover for the already trembling dignitaries. Some IPOB members even taunted the soldiers to fire shot and be roasted alive.
According to a member of the Local Organizing Committee of the Marathon, who preferred anonymity,” We were all scared at the bravery of the I[POB members to invade the stadium, including the state box. Even some of the invited dignitaries almost ran away, but were pleaded to remain calm as the protesters were not violent. The IPOB boys were so unpredictable that we had to hurriedly announce the winners and leave the stadium.”
