Killings Of Soldiers In Imo Worrisome, Says Ohanaeze President Iwuanyanwu, Calls For Justice And Reconciliation

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has condemned the killing of security agents and the subsequent burning of houses and businesses belonging to innocent residents by soldiers in Imo State.

Ohanaeze in a statement signed by the President General, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, on Friday described both incidents as unacceptable to Ndigbo Worldwide.

Iwuanyanwu called on the Federal Government and authorities of the Nigerian military to fish out those involved in both attacks, noting that such was heinous and shouldn’t be tolerated.

He lamented that the bloodletting in the South-East being perpetuated by both state and non-state actors had turned the region to a killing field.

He stated, “My heart bleeds over the sad events in Igboland where Igbo were for the first time killing fellow Igbo. I am equally very distressed by the rate at which the Nigerian security operatives are killed, not only in Igboland but all over the country.

“Worse still is the suspected reprisal, where innocent Igbo sons and daughters from Mbano in Imo State have found their lives and means of livelihood completely destroyed. This situation is completely unacceptable to me. I condemn it in strong terms.”

He said he was sending a team under the chairmanship of the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Imo State Chapter, CJ Ihemedu, to assess the incidents and submit to him with a comprehensive report on the matter.

He added, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo is right now undertaking a total transformation of Igboland. By this transformation, more job opportunities will be created in Igboland for school leavers and infrastructure for businessmen and women.

“Meanwhile, I wish to on behalf of all Igbo worldwide to express our deep sympathy to the families of the security agents who were gruesomely murdered. We also sympathise with our people in Mbano, Imo State, whose shops and houses were destroyed during the reprisal.