The Commissioner of Police in Anambra state, Ikioye Orutugu, has described the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a product of an ideology, stating that members are not devils and some cooperate with the police on essential issues.
Speaking at the 2025 Anambra Police Command Media Chat, CP Orutugu extoled the efforts of the Anambra Command under his watch in safeguarding the lives and properties of Anambra residents so far.
He seized the opportunity to comment on IPOB, stating that the movement is just a product of an ideology and nothing more. He revealed that several members of the group are friends with the Police and share information with them.
Orutugu’s comments on IPOB contradict the official narrative from the Nigerian government, which proscribed the group in 2017 and considers members to be terrorists.
Speaking further in the media chat, the Anambra Police chief revealed that his most significant achievement in office was hosting the Nigerian president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in Anambra State.
He thanked the command for making the event a successful one, plugging all the security loopholes that could be exploited by bad actors ahead of the president’s visit to the state.
Orutugu also highlighted last month’s gubernatorial elections in Anambra state as another achievement of his leadership in the state. He stated that the elections went smoothly despite threats and pressure from IPOB and other non-state actors in the state.
CP Ikioye Orutugu is a highly decorated officer from Bayelsa State and was appointed Anambra’s commissioner of police in early February 2025. He assumed duty as the 35th CP for the command, succeeding CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, who was redeployed to Force Headquarters.
Orutugu holds a doctorate and is often referred to as Dr Ikioye Orutugu. Under his stewardship, Anambra recorded significant success in security and anti-kidnapping, including rescuing 35 kidnap victims in 2025 alone.
