From Nonye Udumiri, Aba
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide had described the uprisings, waves of violence in Imo state within the last few days as a sign of full bloom banditry on the way.
The group said the attack seems revengeful and reprisal against the government of Imo State in response to Governor Hope Uzodinma’s words that he ordered for military airstrikes against Eastern Security Network (ESN) and IPOB members in Orlu recently.
Addressing newsmen in Aba, Ohanaeze factional leadership led by High Chief Chidi Ibeh, President General and Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Secretary General said they had cautioned Imo State Governor on the matter, but nothing came out of it.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo had previously warned Governor Hope Uzodinma of the consequences of his impulsive actions against ESN in appeasement of his paymasters.
“Imo state governor should now accept the full responsibilities of violence perpetrated in Owerri on early hours of Easter Monday and his leadership failures to constructively pursue peace instead of opting for military action against peaceful Biafra agitators in Orlu recently.
“The pattern and uniformity of the modus of operandi of the perpetrators, shows there are evidences of a well coordinated serial attacks in almost police stations in all Igbo states at early hours of each day with the sole targets of amassing arms for the possibly full scale banditry in the Southeast.
“The new dimensions of attacks at Owerri correctional facility, points that, the perpetrators had equally released their members recently incarcerated by Imo state Governor over Orlu crisis.”
Ohanaeze therefore calls for ceasefire and reminded the perpetrators that dialogue remains the best weapon of resolving conflicts and disputes.
The group said that there are laid down procedures to nip at the bud the fast rising monsters in Southeast, which requires drastic measures and proffered what it termed solutions for permanent ceasefire.
Listing the solutions, Ohanaeze said, “Governor Hope Uzodinma should tender unreserved apologies to Ndigbo for his non consultative military actions in Orlu crisis and incarceration of innocent people and rescind most of his unpopular anti Igbo decisions and policies.
“Southeast Governors must establish the regional Southeast security Network to engage the Youths to defend our territories without further delay with full backing of the law.
“The EndSARS FG youth empowerment funds should be shared equitably in all the 95 LGAs of Southeast and anti open grazing laws must be uniformly enacted in all the Southeast House of Assemblies and signed into law by Southeast Governors without further delay.
“Southeast governors should de-proscribe the activities of IPOB and persuade FG to remove the terrorist tag on them”, he advised.
