Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu
Ndigbo not at war with FG, Ohanaeze youths tells army
Ndigbo not at war with FG, Ohanaeze youths tells army
Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia

Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has restated the ban on protests and demonstration in the state, just as a Magistrate Court in Umuahia yesterday granted bail to the 26 members of the pro-Biafra groups that protested over the continued detention of their leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.
The 26 men were curiously listed in the charge sheet as members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) even though the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was deeply involved in the protest.
The activists were arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony, belonging to an unlawful society, and possession of one cutlass, 12 MASSOB T-shirts, identity cards of MASSOB “which is an unlawful society.”
The police prosecutor, Mr. O.O Uche, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), urged the court to remand the pro-Biafran activists in prison custody “to make them learn their lessons.”
But the defence counsel, Nwabueze Nwankwo and E.O Nkere disagreed with the prosecutor, reminding the court that the offences for which the accused were arraigned were bailable and therefore pleaded with the trial magistrate to grant them bail.
Ruling on the bail application, the magistrate, Mrs. Linda Ugboaja, granted them bail in the sum of N100,000 and one surety each and the surety must be a resident within the jurisdiction of the court and must submit two recent passport photographs to the court.
The matter was adjourned to February 24, 2016 for hearing.
Meanwhile, following the killing of the pro-Biafra protesters at Aba on Monday the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) reminded the Nigerian Army and other security agencies that Ndigbo are not at war with the Nigerian government hence Igboland should not be turned into a theatre of war.
The OYC, which is the youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in a statement issued in Umuahia expressed its outrage over the death of no fewer than three persons allegedly shot by soldiers at Aba during the protest over the detention of IPOB leader Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.
Scores were wounded and 26 arrested for participating in the protest.
In the statement jointly signed by the national President of OYC, Comrade Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Secretary General, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike the group strongly condemned the killing of unarmed civilians by security agents, describing it as “provocative and a gross violation of the fundamental human rights of the protesters.”
OYC therefore called for the investigation of the killings with a view to “bringing to book the trigger-happy security operatives” who have made it a habit to shed innocent blood any time they see pro-Biafra protests, citing similar killings at Onitsha last year.
It warned security agencies to stop “killing unarmed civilians who committed no crime other than exercising their fundamental human rights” adding that rather than killing the protesters the federal government should make serious efforts to find lasting solutions to the causes of the renewed agitation for Biafra.
The Ohanaeze youths reminded those flexing muscles against peaceful protesters that the ongoing agitation for Biafra as being championed by IPOB and other pro- Biafra groups could not be quelled by force of arms or intimidation. The group insisted that dialogue and positive engagement of the agitators remain the best way out of the problem.
OYC, again pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to give heed to pleas by prominent Igbo leaders and groups “as well as progressive Nigerians of other tribes who have at various times asked for the release of the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.”
According to the group the release of Kanu would calm nerves and put and end to the unending protests by Biafran agitators, noting that if Mr. President listens to the voices of reason it would in the overall interest of the country.
Said OYC: “We beg Buhari to please release Nnamdi Kanu to Ohanaeze, and we assure him that we will prevail on the protesters to stop these festering demonstrations capable of consuming Nigeria if allowed to escalate.
“It is easier to end quarrel than to end war. The federal government should please save Nigeria these needless bloodbaths before it is too late.
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