Four days after the Nigeria Army onslaught on the residence of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, in Afaraukwu in Ibeku Umuahia Local Government Area of Abia State, his whereabouts is still unknown as the issue is now on the lips of every resident in the state, especially, Umuahia, the state capital.
His father, who is the traditional ruler of the area and his wife, is yet to make public appearances, while the Sunday church services in Umuahia was peaceful, but solemn.
But IPOB has kicked against the development, condemning the military over its declaration that it is a terrorist group.
In a statement made available to The Daily Times on Sunday evening by the Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Comrade Emma Powerful, the organisation said “the IPOB and its leadership worldwide under the command and leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu condemns the illegal declaration made by Nigerian Army labeling the most popular and peaceful freedom fighting organisation in the world today as a terrorist organisation.
“We found the statement made by Nigerian Army a laughable and caricature the army is making itself because whatever be the case, the Nigerian Army has no right or power to label IPOB a terrorist group while the case is still in the court.
It is the duty of Nigerian court to decide between the Nigerian government and IPOB under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“We challenge the Nigerian government and her security operatives to stop their barbaric and unprovoked attacks to unarmed and innocent civilians who have not been involved in any act of crime or violence since the inception of this struggle for Biafra independence championed by IPOB.
It’s very appalling that South East governors will always stoop so low to allow Hausa Fulani to teleguide them in their meeting at Enugu in collaborating with security operatives to eliminate their people whom they are supposed to protect because they want re-election of political office in 2019”.
The IPOB spokesman further alleged that there is a plan to destroy Kanu’s house, saying “It was reliably informed that the newly appointed police commissioner went to our leader’s house with his team of policemen, with three Hillux jeeps including the commissioner’s car Prado jeep himself to continue their raiding and to destroy house and cars in Nnamdi Kanu compound yesterday being 16th September 2017.
“We are putting the world on notice to be aware of all these acts perpetrated against our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB members by Nigerian Army and police since the inception of this struggle for Biafra independence.
But in a telephone call put across to him by newsmen late Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Geoffrey Ogbonna, said he was not aware of the IPOB allegation that Kanu’s cars and house have been destroyed.
The new Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command, Anthony Michael Ogbizi, did not pick his calls and answer text message put across to him at press time.
But a stroll across Kanu’s residence showed that his two cars riddled with bullet were still there, while the compound housing Kanu’s storey building and that of his father, including his palace were still standing.
Security at a close junction to the house was a little bit tight with the presence of riot police officers. But life has returned to normal as there was no single soldier in the area.
Meanwhile, in an effort to smoke out the IPOB leader wherever he is, officers of the Nigeria Police led by the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in-charge of operations, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, who until recently was the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, was at the weekend spotted at the abandoned property that has been the palace of Kanu’s father – Eze (Sir) I.O. Kanu, the Egwu Ukwu II of Afaraukwu Ancient City, keeping a 24/7 watch over the building.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, had on Thursday dispatched 10 units of police special forces coordinated by Lakanu and AIG in-charge of Zone 9 Umuahia, Mr. Hosea Karma.
They were given firm instructions to restore order in the state after IPOB members stirred up trouble by blocking the passage of military men on patrol and stoning soldiers with missiles.
South-East governors thereafter issued a joint statement proscribing IPOB, just as the military officially labelled the group as a terrorist group.
Lakanu, who led the police takeover of Kanu’s house, has vowed to follow IGP’s instruction to the letter. He is familiar with South-East territory.
He left Imo State as commissioner of police five months ago, when he was promoted to the rank of AIG. The state governor rewarded him for his accomplishments, including the killing of a dreaded armed robber and kidnapper known as Vampire in a joint operation with the Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
Lakanu once served as Head of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Lagos, and earned the IGP’s gallantry award for his contributions to the reduction of crime in the state and bringing an end to the reign of a notorious armed robber, Shina Rambo.
Like Lakanu, Karma is also a veteran of many battles who had spent many years in the Mobile Police Force. Meanwhile, Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has reviewed the earlier curfew imposed by him as a result of last week Thursday unrest to 10pm.
The Script recalls that Jos, the state capital, was thrown into a mild civil unrest last week following the ongoing agitation by members of the IPOB in the South East, which resulted to the death of two people.
In the wake of the incident, the state government swiftly imposed a dusk to dawn curfew beginning from 6pm to 6am to arrest the ugly trend.
Satisfied with the level of compliance, the governor on Sunday at about 4pm, issued a statement to newsmen through his Directorate of Press Affairs, Emmanuel Nanle, reviewing the initial time of 6pm to 10pm.
The statement reads: “Having considered the improvement in the state of security, since the unfortunate incident of Thursday, 14th September, 2017 which necessitated the imposition of a dusk to dawn curfew, by the State government, has with effect from Sunday, the 17th September, 2017 approved the relaxation of the curfew from 10pm daily to 6am of the subsequent day until further notice.
“The Executive Governor wishes to appreciate the swift response of security personnel and the wide spread community consultative meetings held by various community and religious leaders, which have come out with renewed commitments and resolves of all and sundry to be law abiding and peaceful.
PDP faults Army over tag of IPOB as terrorist group
But in its usual opposition to the government of All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has faulted the military for calling the IPOB a terrorist organisation, saying the military lacks the constitutional authority to do so.
Spokesman of the PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, stated this after a closed door meeting between his party and a delegation of China’s leading party, Communist Party of China (CPC), held at the PDP secretariat in Abuja. Adeyeye, who urged the leaders of South-East region to step up to their responsibility, also cautioned IPOB to be clear on their tactics and strategies, adding that if they claim to be non-violent, they should not be provoked into acts of violence.
He said, “I believe that the power to proscribe an organisation lies essentially with the National Assembly and the Federal Government of Nigeria. It does not lie with the governors or the military.
“However, the governors are the chief security officers of the various states and the primary responsibility of government is to secure lives and properties of its citizens.
That is the first and most important responsibility of government. “Therefore as chief security officers of their states, they are allowed to take every measure that will ensure that peace reigns supreme in their various states.
“Therefore I will not condemn what the governors have done. They have been on the receiving end of the activities of IPOB. But for the military, I think it over-reached itseld by declaring IPOB a terrorist organisation. Senate to meet with security chiefs over South- East In a related development, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has indicated that the Senate will meet with security chiefs to chart a path for resolution of contentious issues engendering tension in the South-East.
The Senate President said the meeting would hold when Senators resume from their annual recess and will address the tension in the South-East and the skirmishes in Plateau State.
He made this known in a statement issued on his behalf by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, on Sunday. Saraki also appealed to aggrieved Nigerians to maintain peace and avoid statements or actions capable of aggravating the tension in parts of the country.
He also urged security agencies, political and religious leaders to work for the promotion of dialogue as means for tackling agitations, to ensure peace in the country.
He said, “The tension in some parts of the country has its roots substantially in the economic situation. “The nation should be assured that some of the legislative and executive actions taken to address the economic problems are beginning to yield fruits.
“This is why we recently witnessed the rebound of the economy and the exit of the country from recession.” He called for calm among the people, especially in the South-East and Plateau State, saying that the government required the cooperation of everyone in solving all problems.
“I want to appeal to our people to avoid stoking ethnic or religious fires. We should not deepen the fault lines of our nation and place citizens in danger of violence and sustained crises.
“The government requires the support of all Nigerians and we should please give peace a chance. No real development or genuine economic activity can take place in the midst of crisis or tension.
“Investments and development thrive only where there is peace.” He advised political, community and religious leaders to take actions that would douse the tension, assuring the people that the best way was for Nigerians to live together in peace and harmony.
OPC condemns militarization of South-East
Also, the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) has condemned the militarisation of some parts of the South-East under Operation Python Dance II in an attempt to arrest the growing influence of the Nnamdi Kanu-led IPOB. This was as the pan-Yoruba group canvassed for dialogue in resolving the issues as stake.
In a statement issued by the 0PC in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital on Sunday, by Comrade Moruff Olarewaju, the group said the agitation of IPOB should be addressed through dialogue, rather than the military option.
The OPC boss said it did not believe there was any security treat in some part of Umuahia and its environs to warrant the deployment of soldiers to intimidate and molest innocent Nigeria going about their lawful businesses.
Olarewaju said history did not favour military suppression of agitating groups, citing the case of Odi where the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) surfaced strongly and serious damage was done to the nation’s economy even after former President Olusegun Obasanjo-led Federal Government was supposed to have successfully muscled the South-South community to silence.
Olanrewaju, who made this commendation while speaking to journalists in Ilorin on Sunday, however said that the Federal Government must be lauded for destruction of the insurgents and signaling the defeat of Boko Haram in Borno State.
