Secessionist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra says the killings of innocent people with no traceable links to criminals by Nigeria’s joint military operation in Ogbaru and Nnewi South Local Government Areas of Anambra State is saddening.
Recall that soldiers on the 28th and 29th of June stormed communities in Ogbaru, killing at least 18 persons.
The group has, however, urged the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to speak against the killings.
IPOB noted that his “silence” showed that he is competing with the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, in using the military to kill his people.
Emma Powerful, the media and publicity secretary of the group in a statement wondered if the governor was aware of the military invasions of the communities, adding that recent events showed that the governor was being persuaded and blackmailed into dancing to the tune of using the military against his people.
The group also acknowledged that the military operatives are getting rid of criminal elements in the state but said it was not enough reason for them to randomly be “slaughtering” innocent people.
According to IPOB, it was unimaginable that the “Fulani-controlled” military deployed in the area had been killing innocent people, without any of the governors from the region condemning the act.
“We don’t know if Soludo is aware of this military exercise or is it the Federal Government’s plans to wipe out a larger number of Ndigbo.
“Yes, we are aware that there are some pockets of petty criminals in the state as obtainable elsewhere in Nigeria, but that is not enough reason for the Nigeria terrorist military to randomly be slaughtering our people like chickens. The military started shooting innocent people sporadically on the road and some were gunned down in their homes in Ogbaru and Nnewi South.
“Soludo are you aware of the military exercise? Is this kind of military depopulation of your people part of the deal you entered with the enemies of Ndigbo before being voted into office as Anambra governor last year November?
“Do you also derive joy seeing your people being murdered by Fulani terrorists and jihadists masquerading as Nigeria security agencies? Soludo what crimes did people of your state commit to deserve being unleashed with military and police brutality?
“IPOB family is deeply saddened with the ongoing massacre of innocent people with no traceable links to criminals by Nigeria Joint Military in an effort to curb criminality in the East, particularly in Anambra State and Imo State.
“It is unimaginable that the security agencies murder our people leaving the footprint of the Fulani-terrorist of Nigeria military yet no eastern governor has condemned or spoken out against this outrage and ethnic cleansing.
“Profiling and Killing of innocent young Igbo youths while the terrorist youths in the North are being recruited into Nigeria army, police and DSS, covered with military uniformed, armed and sent to our land upon request of some of our Governors for the deliberate massacre of their citizens can be referred as stupid. That’s why the Caliphate refers to such individuals as “Useful Idiots”.
“Soludo, take a look at what is happening in Ukpor, Nnewi South LGA, how the military is going house to house searching, eliminating and disappearing youths from 15 years above. So far Nigeria’s terrorist Military may have eliminated more than 500 innocent youths in the two LGAs.
“Can you show us where the military attacked and burnt down a village in the North when terrorists and bandits killed any military personnel? When Nigerian Army comes into Biafra land, they dumped military rules of engagement and become brutal as terrorists in burning properties and mindless slaughtering of our people.
“We are not asking you not to fight criminals who are troubling our people but call these terrorists parading as Nigeria soldiers to order, disabuse our minds and that of Anambra youths, convince us that you haven’t become another Hope Uzodinma of Imo State.”
