By Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia
Following Friday’s killing of suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) engaged in peaceful protests at Aba, Abia State, against the continued detention of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, by the Federal Government, IPOB, yesterday, tasked the state’s outgoing governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, and his successor, Alex Otti, not to allow the state to be turned into another killing field.
In a statement by IPOB’s Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, where he stated that over 100 of their members were still missing after the protest, he stated that Ikpeazu and Otti must ensure that those behind Friday’s unprovoked attack and murder of peaceful protesters, which he put at more that 50, are brought to justice.
Powerful said: “At last count, more than 100 protesters are still missing, while IPOB recovered about three bodies of its murdered youths.
“More than 30 protesters sustained one degree of a bullet wound or the other.
“The state Police Commissioner should release the bodies of the protesters they killed and took away to hide their crime for a proper and dignified burial.
“We warn those behind this senseless attack and massacre of peaceful IPOB protesters to retrace their steps or face the dance of the spirits of our land. It is not an offence to protest for the unconditional release of Kanu, who is illegally detained by Federal Government.”
The separatist group noted that government and its security agencies must stop house-to-house search for IPOB members, stressing that the world should take note of these atrocities against innocent citizens in the South East.
IPOB added that the international community, the United Nations, United States and United Kingdom, as well as many Western Nations have proven, without doubt, that lives of Biafrans do not worth anything and IPOB has heard them loud and clear.
“These sort of mindless massacre of our people only strengthens our resolve to seek genuine and honest partners and partnerships that will be mutually beneficial, and which would foster the needed protection for Southeasterners,” the statement added.
While Powerful further stated that though IPOB is peaceful, it can pull down the tallest Iroko standing in its way and referred to Igbo adage that state, “ If a deity proves too powerful, it will be reminded of the tree used to carve it.”
Source: The Guardian
