A coalition of South East network of organizations have condemned the extra judicial Killings of Ndi Igbo by overzealous security men during the lockdown and the silence of South East Governors towards the Killings.
The coalition in an open letter recalled that following the global outbreak of the Coronavirus, the Nigerian government responded swiftly announcing drastic measures including territorial lock downs to curtail and combat the spread of the pandemic, a move state governments, including South East States also responded to.
They however observed with regrets that during the lockdown, security agents have killed more people in South Eastern Nigeria than in any other region of the country with the pretentious excuse of enforcing the lockdown.
They said it is now obvious that overzealous security agents consistently brutalize and kill young Ndi Igbo at the flimsiest excuses under the watch of Igbo leaders.
“For a long time Ndi Igbo have concentrated their animosity against external elements while ignoring leadership in Igbo land.
“We believe that it is misplaced aggression for Ndi Igbo to continue to fight external forces while our political and traditional leaders constitute a more dangerous danger to Ndi Igbo.
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“As Governors of South Eastern states, the security and welfare of Ndi Igbo ought to and should be the topmost priority to Your Excellencies and in strong terms we decry Your Excellencies silence in the face of constant and consistent brutalization and killing of your people.”
The group therefore urged South East Governors to take proactive steps to arrest the decline in the security and safety of Ndi Igbo across South East States and to ward off the excessive use of maximum force and indiscriminate arrest of Igbo youths in their homeland.
They also urged the governors to take immediate steps in mobilizing South East resources to address infrastructural deficits across Igbo land and to begin immediate mobilization of Ndi Igbo towards the actualization of the Igbo Homeland Project.
The group, while pledging their continued support to the political leadership across Igboland, however warned that they will not hesitate to withdraw such support if they fail, neglect or utterly refuse to protect their people.
The letter was jointly signed by leaders of coalition of organizatios, including Mr. Obuesi Phillips, Global leader of People of South East Region (POSER), Mr. Nze Onwuka, International Coordinator of Igbo Renaissance Forum (IRF), Samuel Obodo, the National Chairman, People of South East Region (POSER), Mr. Silas Uzoma, Chairman of South East Mandate Monitoring Group (SEMMG) and Mr. Obi Nzedigwe, Coordinator, Anambra Grassroot Movement (AGM).
