- Ohaneze demands Buhari retracts statement on threat of genocide against South East
The Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Nigeria Police and other security agencies are set to launch a major offensive against the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), its military wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and other criminal elements in the South East region of Nigeria.
Already, security agencies are softening the ground and preparing the minds of Nigerians for the coming onslaught with briefings and statements.
Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Mr Festus Keyamo, has already given a hint of the major offensive, tweeting on Tuesday: “I hope some elites who couldn’t find their voices to rein in their wards when their region burnt, will not suddenly find their voices against Mr. President! Those who screamed that it’s Mr. President’s duty to maintain law & order should NOT try to teach him how to do his job now.”
The same Tuesday, President Buhari made it clear that he is launching a major offensive, saying via his verified Twitter handle, @MBuhari, after a briefing from @inecnigeria on the attacks on their offices: “Whoever wants the destruction of the system will soon have the shock of their lives. We’ve given them enough time. Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand. We are going to be very hard sooner than later.”
Meanwhile, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, on Wednesday condemned President Muhammadu Buhari’s ‘genocidal’ statement, asking him to immediately retract his words threatening a repeat of the civil war experience on the Igbos.
The body also urged Buhari to tender an unreserved apology to Igbos and show love and leadership to the people of the region by having a dialogue with Igbo Governors and leaders, including youths and agitators.
The federal government and its agencies are taking it a bit higher by “leaking” and briefing “friendly” media houses the news of the coming offensive.
Multiple security sources have said that President Muhammadu Buhari has given the security agencies the marching order to curtail what many Nigerians fear is a descent to anarchy.
One told the online newspaper, TheCable, that “the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has recruited over 50,000 foot soldiers, as it were, into its Eastern Security Network (ESN) and stockpiled arms, most of which were stolen from police armoury during the End SARS protests.
“They have been bringing in arms through Cameroon in partnership with the Ambazonia Governing Council, the separatist movement in Southern Cameroon. IPOB sends at least 2,000 men and women to Cameroon for training on weapon handling every week.”
Another top security official said IPOB has stockpiled “bottle bombs”, locally made explosive devices, Pump Action rifles “as well as swords.”
In a recorded tape, two people described as “top commanders of ESN” were heard discussing issues such as surveillance of INEC offices, militants wounded in previous attacks, operations of IPOB camps, doctors treating wounded colleagues, installation of CCTV camera at their training camps in Udi, Emene and Nsukka and how to attack police cells.
“This is warfare,” the security operative added.
IPOB has denied being violent in its separatist campaign, but it has also said it assembles arms and ammunition locally.
Nigeria is expecting delivery of some military equipment, including fighter jets, from the US this month.
TheCable understands that police operations have also been rejigged in the South East ahead of the offensive, with three Deputy Commissioners of Police and squadrons of anti-riot Police deployed per State.
But Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said in a statement: ”Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has studied the proclamation of President Muhammadu Buhari on social media responding to the insecurity challenges in southeastern Nigeria and we ask President Buhari to quickly rescind the threats of repeating the episode of the civil war experience which killed 3 million Igbo people and wreaked havoc on Igbo properties.
”Mr President should tender an unreserved apology to Ndigbo, for the civil war contentions against southeast to help avert possible misinterpretation of Nigerians misconstruing him.
”We are using this channel to remind President Buhari that there are killer-herdsmen and Northern bandits based on the earlier warnings of USA Embassy, Abuja that ‘they were heading south to destabilise the region’.
”The recent provocative onslaught against the southeast gave rise to Northern delinquents commandeering the moment to unleash affliction on security formations and government agencies like INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission).
”We are solidly behind the southeast governors in these tribulations and difficulties to restore peace and stability in the southeast, and President Buhari should regularly be scheduled to meet with Igbo governors and leaders, including youths and agitators; this exhibition of love is what Nigerians expect from Buhari, not civil war magniloquence.
”Federal Government honoured the Yoruba nation through MKO Abiola by the declaration of June 12 as Democracy Day to heal the psyche and wounds of the past, Southeast should be honoured on June 12 Democracy Day through Presidential pardon and amnesty for all repentant Biafra Agitators. No matter the number of challenges that confront Ndigbo, we will not like to be threatened with the genocide of 30 months of Biafra War again.”
