Igbo leaders call for withdrawal of troops from Southeast.
3 min read
Since the time insecurity found its ways in the Southeast region of Nigeria which is Igboland, many people including state and federal officials, security agents, civilians, IPOB and ESN members have lost their lives in different violent attacks. The escalating violence has led to the burning of several police stations and INEC offices across the region and there seems to be no end in the nearest future. This ugly development has led to a serious escalation of poverty and medical crisis as businesses and access to medical assistance, have drastically dropped.
Umuaka Times investigations show that the residents in the region now live in fear of attacks from several groups fueling the violence including the unknown gunmen or women. Many police stations that are yet to be attacked, lock their gates always as a defence strategy against an impending danger. Many Igbo parents who witnessed the Nigerian Biafran War from 1967 to 1970 have deeply expressed fears that the scenario reminds them of the war and warned those beating the drums of war to reconsider their positions.
In Igboland today, political observers have noted with sadness that the residents of the South Eastern states for over a couple of 4 months have been trying their best to protect themselves from some terrorists, suspected to be of Fulani origin, armed robbers, Nigerian Army, police and kidnappers. Many people especially innocent Igbo citizens and other residents in the area from other ethnic group have lost their lives in double quick time as a result of the multi-directional crisis.
From all indications, the Igbo are not prepared for another war and would not like to engage in another war that may be as disastrous as the Nigerian Biafran War of the 60s. In order to avoid another pogrom or carnage in the region, top Igbo elites, politicians, students pressure groups and the clergy have all called upon the Federal Government of Nigeria to withdraw the federal troops from the region as the first move to restore peace in the region.
Last week, the Igbo Elders Council led by the former governor of Anambra State Chief Chukwuemeka Ezife accused Federal security agencies of indiscriminately killing Igbo youths in the region under the false claim of fighting members of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB and its security agency, Eastern Security Network. While addressing newsmen in Abuja on June 11, 2021, Chief Ezife pointedly accused the federal security agencies of exterminating the lives of Igbo youths through the illegal instrumentality of extra-judicial killings. The organization told the APC-led Federal Government of Nigeria to withdraw its forces from the region.
Also last week, veteran actress, singer and human rights activist, Onyeka Onwenu also appealed to the Federal Government to pull the troops out of the region.
Onwenu who made the call at a press conference organized by the Credible Igbo Women Initiative (CIWI) in Lagos, stated that agitation for referendum is the right of the people. “We come here together with one thing in our mind: peace, love and equity. Something dreadful is happening in Southeast right now. I happened to come from Imo state and I know what people are passing through there. Please, Federal Government should stop the killings. ”
