The Igbo socio-cultural group known as Ohanaeze Ndigbo has called on the Federal Government to withdraw the soldiers on operation in the South-East.
This is coming after the Army allegedly attacked the Abia home of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Sunday, September 10, 2017.
According to Channels TV, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, John Nwodo alleged that the soldiers were deployed to intimidate Igbos.
Nwodo also said that if the military operation is not stopped, it will amount to an invasion of Igbo land.
He said “In
a democracy, the level of disenchantment expressed by the people of the
South East of Nigeria ought to have provoked a serious dialogue between
our people and the federal executive and the legislature.
“History
teaches us that
the continuous use of force to silence dissent and free
speech will only accelerate the growth of dissent and dissatisfaction.
Fundamental rights of freedom of expression are critical for a
successful democracy.
“Nigeria at this moment does not need such deliberate and proactive escalation of tensions and crisis.
“Our people were shamelessly intimidated
and harassed at these check points. Operation Python Dance 1 procured
no arrests of criminals that were prosecuted for any of the criminal
activities that Operation Python Dance II is supposed to address.
“Instead,
it witnessed reckless and indiscriminate murder of self-determination
agitators in Asaba, Aba, Nkpor, and Port Harcourt numbering up to 191 by
the estimates of Transparency International and shattered public
confidence of South-easterners in the Nigerian Army and Police.”
The
Abia state government has declared a 3-day curfew from 6:00 am to 6:00
pm starting from Tuesday, September 12 to Thursday, September 14, 2017.
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