IPOB/MASSOB Protests: Igbo leaders speak out, Lists names of IPOB members killed

A twist has now been added to the bloody protest and demonstration by the combined efforts of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra(MASSOB) and the Biafra Zionist Movement(BZM) with the accusation of the ruling All Progressives Grand(APC) of sponsoring the crisis that led to security agents attacking unarmed youths resulting in the death of about nine people and many others sustaining various degrees of injuries in Onitsha.

Speaking on behalf of the IPOB in Onitsha yesterday, Mr. Emma Powerful disclosed that it was a calculated plan by the APC government in the country which has become very unsettled by their peaceful and non violent protests in parts of the country and major cities of the world were desperately looking for a way to ignite/instigate violence as a way to justify their continued detention of their leader, Dr Nnamdi Kanu.

Mr Powerful used the occasion to make public the names and identities of their members allegedly shot dead at about 1.30am early Wednesday by security agents.
They include Messrs Kenneth Ogadinma from Abia State, Chima Onoh from Enugu state, Angus Chikwado and Felicia Egwuatu, from Anambra state amongst others. He confirmed receiving reports from their members of other killings in Idemili area of Anamnra state.

The IPOB spokesman accused the Joint Task Force(JTF)of killing the only woman among the casualty list simply identified as Nkiruka and their attempt to take her corpse away. He alleged that the young lady was reportedly hit by stray bullet at Obodoukwu road when the soldiers were shooting sporadically in the name of dispersing the crowd.

According to him, “We want the Joint Task Force to explain the crowd they were dispersing, IPOB and MASSOB did not protest yesterday, so which crowd were they dispersing, is shooting at people the way to disperse crowd, what is tear gas meant, for, people were shot at gun point on Wednesday that was why we have that number of casualty, and is not only nine people, they killed more than twenty people, we are still receiving reports of people killed and when we finish compiling and confirming the number, we will address the press again,” he said.

He also berated the joint meeting said to have been held on the behest of the Sultan of Sokoto and Gov Rochas Okorocha which was hosted by the Imo State Government and attended by some traditional rulers from the South East as a mere gathering of APC members. He described the outcome as equally disappointing to both the organizers and attendees.

Powerful rhetorically queried, “…how can anybody be holding a meeting concerning IPOB, MASSOB and issue of Biafra in Imo state instead of Enugu state or Anambra State, the home of our spiritual leader Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu without any IPOB and MASSOB member, even one person from the groups represented and hosted by APC Governor in the person of Okorocha being the host. Is he the Chairman of south East Governors Forum? Did any South East Governor except Okorocha, in attendance? We therefore maintain that it was APC meeting and its outcome does not have any binding on IPOB or MASSOB,” he said.


IGBO LEADERS SPEAK OUT FOR PEACE:
Chief Rommy Ezeownwuka, a popular voice among Igbo youths has spoken out on the on-going crisis over the continued detention of Dr Kanu and appealed to IPOB and MASSOB to continue to maintain peace they were known for.

Ezeonwuka who addressed journalists yesterday at the Rojenny Games Village, Oba said he was attacked by 1.35 am Tuesday night (Dec 2) when he yielded to pressures by some notable Igbo leaders to address the protesting IPOB members as they would listen to him to leave the Niger Bridge area which they blocked.

He said, “I want them to know that IPOB that is known for peaceful protest is being infiltrated by criminals sponsored by politicians from in and outside the state to involve in violent activities to destroy their name, they should not allow that to happen because the criminals who have been chased out by Governor Willie Obiano will cash in on that and come into the state again.

“I totally condemn the burning the burning of Mosques, the burning of trailers and any kind of vehicle, I totally condemn the blocking of roads and invasion of markets, Markets is our only economic base and we should not support and allow our enemies who are using anti commercial and economic policies to make us poor all.

“Anything that will affect free movement of people and trading will affect the South East in general, these illegal activities of infiltrators, I understand are not part of IPOB or MASSOB agenda, violence has not been part of the groups agenda and therefore, they should be vigilant to fish out the infiltrators out of their fold, IPOB and MASSOB should ensure that they extract the grain from the chaff.

“I make bold to say that those people involved in burning of vehicles, looting of goods and making born fire are not members of IPOB and MASSOB and they were not directed to do that, and we are warning them and their sponsors to steer clear from the state, the Governor Willie Obiano has not relaxed his hunt for criminal elements that he chased out of the state and this opportunity of IPOB and MASSOB protest is not an opportunity to come back to the state, the Governor is still hunting them, Anambra state is not safe for criminals.

“If the criminals that were chased out of the state thinks that with the protest of IPOB and MASSOB is an opportunity to come back to the state, the government of the state is ready to deal with them anytime anywhere

“I am also telling the law enforcement agents to stop shooting people with fire arms in the name of dispersing protesting crowd, they should rather, arrest and prosecute anybody that commits criminal activity,that is what the law says.

“Indiscriminate shooting is forbidden, extrajudicial killing and even shooting innocent people, including young girls that are going about their lawful businesses is not acceptable, you saw how they wasted the lives of people yesterday, and that is not acceptable in Igbo land, and the peaceful government of Anambra State frowns at killing of innocent citizen or resident of the state,” he said.

Also the Bishop on the Niger Rt. Rev Dr Owens Nwokolo, appealed to the IPOB and MASSOB and all other such groups for calm in Anambra state and Onitsha in particular, just as he has called on the security agencies on their trail to maintain peace that is currently existing in the state.

Bishop Nwokolo in his statement said “both members of IPOB holding peaceful demonstration and security agencies on their trail should maintain peace that has been existing in the state, the various parties involved should resist any attempt by hoodlums to take advantage of the situation and destabilize any part of Anambra State”

“Mischief maker should not also be allowed to disrupt the operations of various markets in Onitsha, while the IPOB leaders and the security agencies should ensure there is no eruption of violence that could lead to breakdown of law and order in Onitsha. However, there should be a dialogue between the Federal Government authorities and the IPOB leaders for lasting solution to the problem, we as a church have committed the commercial city and entire Anambra to God for His intervention, “he said