The Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, yesterday said no amount of
intimidation and harassment by the Nigerian Army and other security
agencies will prevent its members from going to pay the last homage to
the deceased parents of their leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in Isiama
Afaraukwu, Umuahia, Abia State.
IPOB also asked the world to take
notice of the intimidation and harassment of the people if Afaraukwu by
the Nigerian Army after allegedly killing their traditional ruler and
son, Eze Israel Okwu Kanu and his wife.
IPOB described what the
Nigerian Army is allegedly doing in Isiama Afara Ukwu as terrorism at
its height and brazen display of military might at defenceless citizens
while the allegedly fall weak in the face of the Book Haram insurgents.
“One
thing is certain to come 14 February 2020, the parents of our leader
will be laid to rest. APC regime, Nigerian Army and their badly informed
supporters cannot stop IPOB from restoring the sovereign state of
Biafra within the shortest possible time by the grace of God.
A
statement by IPOB,s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful,
alleged that “the soldiers of the Nigerian Army are lazy and only
specializes in terrorizing innocent civilians while recruiting hardened
terrorists into their ranks, while unmitigated lawlessness rage across
Nigeria.”
“We continue to draw the attention of the civilised
world to the incessant harassment, humiliation and intimidation of
Afaraukwu community in Umuahia-Ibeku by the very lazy and shameless
soldiers of the Nigerian Army, whose stock in trade is to terrorise
innocent civilians while recruiting hardened terrorists into their ranks
as unmitigated lawlessness rage across Nigeria.
“In the history
of world military, the brazen and cowardly display of military might in
Isiama Afaraukwu by Nigerian Army, as Boko Haram and other Fulani
sponsored terror groups wreak havoc on defenceless citizens is
confirmation that Buratai and his men are not true soldiers, but mere
terrorists with constitutional backing.
“Real soldiers fight wars
not terrorising innocent civilians preparing for the burial ceremony.
If they do not already know this, let the hierarchy of the Nigerian
military know they are the laughing stock of the world.
“An army
roundly defeated in the battlefield, its officers pursued, captured and
beheaded by a band of ill-equipped combatants, but take pride in
showcasing its intimidatory might in peaceful enclaves is the height of
an army of cowards devoid of ideas.
‘What Buratai and his
soldiers are doing in Umuahia is no different from what terrorists are
doing in the North East of Nigeria. They invade peaceful communities,
killing, pillaging, destroying and kidnapping people at will.
“The
same template Boko Haram and other Fulani sponsored murder squads are
operating within the North East is exactly what the Nigerian Army is
doing in the South East. The Nigerian Army fled the battlefields of the
North East and abandoned their constitutional duty to fight armed
insurgency, but instead turned their armoured tanks and troops on
Afaraukwu community preparing for a burial ceremony.”
The
pro-Biafra group said it is even in the face of the Army intimidation in
Umuahia, notifying the world that preparations for the burial of its
leader’s parents are going ahead as planned.
“The Nigerian Army
is wasting their time and valuable resources in trying to stop something
they know they are incapable of stopping. Burial of the dead is a right
older than man itself.
“Nigeria government and her soldiers are
shameless and downright disgraceful, their refusal to confront armed
Fulani insurgency and Boko Haram menace in the North East, but instead
chose to focus their attention on a burial ceremony in Afaraukwu is
indicative of the misplaced priorities at the heart of this All
Progressives Congress, APC regime, which has directly led to the
deterioration of security situation across Nigeria.
It defies
both common sense and logic that Nigerian soldiers went AWOL in terror
ravaged areas of the north, they refused to battle bandits and terror
groups they themselves sponsored, but are busy killing and terrorizing
innocent and unarmed individuals in the South East.
“Boko Haram,
Fulani herdsmen, Miyetti Allah Bandits, ISIS in West Africa, Al-Queda in
the Maghreb are dutifully waiting for Buratai and his warriors to
engage them in battle in the north; that is the real security problem
facing Nigeria not the burial of His Royal Majesty Eze Israel Okwu Kanu
and his wife Sally.
“How can the government of Nigeria justify
the deployment of soldiers to the venue of a funeral while terrorists
are busy making the lives of law-abiding citizens a misery.
“We
are reminding the APC government in Aso Rock and their cowardly
soldiers to return to the North East to fight Boko Haram terrorists and
leave IPOB and Afaraukwu community alone. Nigeria soldiers and their
supporters must be ashamed of themselves.