The late hour Sunday attack carried out by the men of the Nigerian Army on the home of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been condemned by different groups.
The attack which occurred in the home town of the Biafra leader in Afara-Ukwu, Umuahia, Abia State capital led to the shooting of two IPOB members while several others sustained serious injuries.
It was recently been condemned by the Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose and the former minister of Aviation, Fani-Kayode, while the South-East governors are yet to openly condemn the barbaric act.
However, irked by the provocative attack, Students under the aegis of Igbo Students Union (ISU), have decided to enlist in IPOB and its security outfit, the Biafra Security Service (BSS) for the purpose of securing the region from any attack.
In a statement signed by President of Igbo Students Union, Chimezie Ubami, said “for attacking Kanu, every Igbo student will now mobilise and resist them. Kanu is our leader and we will protect him.”
Inline with the condemnation of the act, Igbo Traders Association (ITA), in a statement by its Chairman, Chief Chris Obikwelu described the attack as “shocking and despicable,” and assured that they would “mobilise to provide adequate security for Kanu.”
Also, South East Elders Forum has condemned the act, by warning against the ugly consequences of turning the zone to a war theatre.
In a statement signed by the forum’s Convener, Dr Dozie Ikedife, the elders noted that a military exercise is normal but added that because of the tension in the country, they would not want it to be like an army of occupation, in any shape or form.
“We advise the civilian population to be calm, go about their normal businesses peacefully and lawfully. The army should ensure that their exercise inflict minimum interference on civilian traffic, on the roads, lanes, by-ways and water -ways. To the best of our knowledge, there is no war in the South East geological zone,” the elders noted.
They said a statement announcing the proposed military exercise between September 15 and October 14, 2017 seemed to suggest a “cordon off and search. If that is so, it makes one wonder whether the term “exercise” is not a mere camouflage for something else.
“Let the military and the civilians in the South East be very careful to ensure that the charged atmosphere does not explode,” the elders rounded off.
