Security Agencies Carrying Out ‘Genocide’ In South-East — Igbo Elders

The Igbo Elders Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
on Friday accused security agencies of indiscriminately killing
Igbo youths in the South-East, in the guise of fighting IPOB and
ESN, two separatist groups.

Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, Chairman of the group, a
former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, said
dozens of young people, mostly male, are being extrajudicially
executed on a daily basis by security operatives in the region.

“We condemn without any reservation the destruction of public
properties in the South-East, because it is not in our character to
indulge in arson, brigandage,” Ezeife said.

“We believe however that it is not fair and just to use a sledge
hammer to kill harmless flies.

“Security agencies now indiscriminately invade private homes at
odd hours, in the same guise of fishing out presumed IPOB and ESN
members.

“They arrest men and sometimes shoot innocent and hapless
youths.

“We therefore call on President Muhamamdu Buhari, the United
Nations, the European Union, African Union, ECOWAS, to take urgent
and necessary action to stop the current genocide against the Igbos
in the South-East and parts of the South-South.”

‘In the language they understand’
President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier this month threatened to
deal with IPOB “in the language they understand”, a statement that
sparked angry reactions from many Nigerians as it referenced
Nigeria’s bloody civil war.

Millions of Igbos died during the civil war.

However, the Muhammadu Buhari administration has since doubled
down on its decision to go on the offensive against IPOB members,
who have been designated as terrorists.

IPOB is advocating the breakaway of a chunk of the country’s
southern region to create the Republic of Biafra.

“A terrorist organisation (IPOB) poses a significant threat to
the safety and security of Nigerian citizens,” the Presidency said
in a statement on Saturday.

“When the President said that they will be treated ‘in a
language they understand,’ he merely reiterated that their force
shall be met with force. It is a basic principle of security
services response world over.

“This is not promotion of hate, but a pledge to uphold citizens’
right to freedom from harm. The government cannot be expected to
capitulate to terrorists.”

The Igbo Elders Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
on Friday accused security agencies of indiscriminately killing
Igbo youths in the South-East, in the guise of fighting IPOB and
ESN, two separatist groups.

Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, Chairman of the group, a
former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, said
dozens of young people, mostly male, are being extrajudicially
executed on a daily basis by security operatives in the region.

“We condemn without any reservation the destruction of public
properties in the South-East, because it is not in our character to
indulge in arson, brigandage,” Ezeife said.

“We believe however that it is not fair and just to use a sledge
hammer to kill harmless flies.

“Security agencies now indiscriminately invade private homes at
odd hours, in the same guise of fishing out presumed IPOB and ESN
members.

“They arrest men and sometimes shoot innocent and hapless
youths.

“We therefore call on President Muhamamdu Buhari, the United
Nations, the European Union, African Union, ECOWAS, to take urgent
and necessary action to stop the current genocide against the Igbos
in the South-East and parts of the South-South.”

‘In the language they understand’
President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier this month threatened to
deal with IPOB “in the language they understand”, a statement that
sparked angry reactions from many Nigerians as it referenced
Nigeria’s bloody civil war.

Millions of Igbos died during the civil war.

However, the Muhammadu Buhari administration has since doubled
down on its decision to go on the offensive against IPOB members,
who have been designated as terrorists.

IPOB is advocating the breakaway of a chunk of the country’s
southern region to create the Republic of Biafra.

“A terrorist organisation (IPOB) poses a significant threat to
the safety and security of Nigerian citizens,” the Presidency said
in a statement on Saturday.

“When the President said that they will be treated ‘in a
language they understand,’ he merely reiterated that their force
shall be met with force. It is a basic principle of security
services response world over.

“This is not promotion of hate, but a pledge to uphold citizens’
right to freedom from harm. The government cannot be expected to
capitulate to terrorists.”