We consider the killing of IPOB members, others an act of Genocide - Igbo Women tell Buhari

FOLLOWING the killings across the country by Fulani herdsmen, the Igbo Women Assembly has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the herdsmen to order before reprisal attacks commence.

This comes on the heels of the arrest of 76 people in Agwu in Enugu State, south-east Nigeria while protesting the abduction  of two women by Fulani herdsmen.

In a communique signed by Maria Okowo, its National President, the woman leader  reeled out the aims and objectives of the organization which  she said is ”to encourage our women to attain the heights of their potentials in all aspects of human endeavour; encouraging them to be self-reliant: to promote honour, integrity and self-respect among Igbo women and youths, among others.

On the danger the Fulani herdsmen pose to Nigerians  the woman leader said “IWA members are extremely troubled at the level of insecurity in Igbo land and other parts of the country. Fulani herdsmen have permeated every nook and cranny of the South East causing havoc. They have engaged in kidnapping, maiming and raping young girls and women, as well as killing farmers, after destroying their farm lands. This is unacceptable to us.

We, therefore call on the Federal Government to, quickly intervene and bring this injustice to an end.  IWA can no longer remain silent, while things continue to go awry. We fear that, if this trend continues, there may be a complete breakdown of law and order.

Mrs Okwo reminded President Buhari  of the killings of members Indigenous people of Biafra, IPOB on a peaceful protest  “Recently. Youths of IPOB were shot and killed during peaceful demonstrations in Aba and Onitsha: we understand that, the youths under reference, were not armed, we, therefore, consider it an act of genocide”.

“IWA pleads with the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, release the leader of IPOB, to douse tension and also make room for dialogue with them, and some credible Igbo leaders. IWA believes that members of IPOB are in serious grief, because of the fact that Ndigbo have been systematically oppressed by successive regimes and denied of their rights. This is the cause of agony for these youths, some of whose parents were not even born during the Nigeria/Biafra war.

Continuing, she said,  “Nowadays underage Christian girls are being abducted and forced into marriage with northern Moslems. This is inhuman and criminal. We are aware that freedom of religion is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Parents of these abducted girls are put through unimaginable trauma which could lead to their untimely deaths.

IWA fully supports the efforts of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to bring corruption to an end and we urge him to continue till those who looted Nigeria’s treasury return all stolen monies and also face adequate punishment for impoverishing the nation. IWA trusts that funds recovered will be judiciously spent on important projects.

“Finally IWA wishes to state, without fear of equivocation, that only the restructuring of the country along the line of true federalism, will bring lasting peace, progress and prosperity to this great nation and make it truly the “GIANT” of Africa. It is an undeniable fact that Ndigbo have not been fully reintegrated into the mainstream of Nigeria, and no longer relevant in the scheme of things.

This makes the NO. VICTOR NO VANQUISHED mantra of the former Yakubu Gowon’s administration after the Nigeria- Biafra civil war in 1970, a huge joke. If the situation subsists, Nigeria will not know peace, which is synonymous with justice.”