- Don’t Turn S’East To War Zone, S’EAST Elders Kick
Emma Powerful, Director, Media and Publicity, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Thursday said the whereabouts of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the group, is unknown after a detachment of soldiers fired several shots that lasted for three hours and broke into his home in Afara Ukwu, Umuahia, Abia State.
In a statement issued by Powerful and, the group said “soldiers occupied the entire compound and shot for about three hours.”
He added that in the process, heavy casualty figures were recorded, and that the dead mostly included members of the organisation guarding Kanu’s home.
According to him, “A lot of members of IPOB are believed to have died and the soldiers took away their bodies.
“The dead ones are mostly those who were protecting our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. And ever since our leader’s whereabouts is unknown.”
He further disclosed that the soldiers were overheard saying they got orders from the Federal Government to get Kanu dead or alive.
As at press time, “Nobody knows whether Kanu is among the dead,” Powerful said.
Meanwhile, South East Elders Forum expressed worry over the face-off between members of IPOB and the military, saying the region has been turned into a theater of war.
Dr. Dozie Ikedife, Convener of the forum, said in Nnewi, Anambra State that the elders were talking about the one that happened in Umuahia on Sunday only to receive news of fresh confrontation between the soldiers and members of IPOB in Rivers and Abia states where some civilian casualties were reportedly recorded.
Dr. Ikedife said it was worrisome that the situation might escalate to an uncontrollable situation that would lead to loss of many lives and property with tension created in the South East zone.
He noted that it should not appear like expeditious or punitive army turned against citizens they were paid to protect, adding that in a democratic dispensation the army had full command at the barracks and war fronts, “but South East geopolitical zone is not a war zone.”
