The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has demanded evidence of the arrest of a soldier who killed a commercial motorcycle rider from Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state.
The slain cyclist, Chimaobi Nworgu was allegedly shot dead following his refusal to offer N100 bribe to a military officer at a checkpoint.
The group in a statement issued on Friday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said no arrest was made as claimed by the governor.
It said the death of Chimaobi represented a watershed, insisting that no amount of photo-opportunity or public relations would diminish the fact.
The statement partly read, “It is unbelievable that Okezie Ikpeazu and the Police Commissioner in Abia State announced the arrest of the killer soldiers involved in the death of Chimaobi Nworgu.
“Nobody has ever seen any picture or video of the murderers as is customary with Nigerian Police anytime they arrest suspects in high profile cases.
“No news conference where their full names, ranks and division they are serving in the army were made public. The pattern of covering up for the worst excesses of Fulani terror soldiers continues in Igboland.
“Biafrans must know there is no iota of truth in the widely circulated lie that those soldiers responsible for the death of Chimaobi are under custody.
“What we are demanding is very simple, pictorial or video evidence that those that shot and killed Chimaobi are in custody.
“Their names must be made public and a commitment extracted from the army to vacate every checkpoint in Biafraland.
“The hurried and clearly orchestrated announcement by Okezie Ikpeazu and his commissioner of police in Abia State is nothing more than just that, a mere announcement. It means nothing and solves nothing.
“We reiterate our demand that those responsible must be arrested and prosecuted or else Okezie Ikpeazu is merely embarking on an exercise in futility.”
Ohanaeze youths send message to Buhari over killing of ‘okada’ rider in Aba
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has told President Muhammadu Buhari to, as a matter of Urgency, give a matching order for redeployment all the military leadership in the South-East following the killing of a commercial motorcycle rider, Chimaobi Nwaogu, in Aba during the week.
The police command in Abia State had yesterday confirmed Wednesday’s killing of a commercial motorcyclist, at Umuokereke Ngwa community near Aba.
The group also commended the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu for his swift intervention and ensuring the arrest of the suspected killer-soldier, CPL Ajayi.
The statement made available on Friday by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro,
President General Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, read, “We call on President Muhammadu Buhari, as a matter of Urgency, to give a matching order for the redeployment of the military leadership in the South East.
“We are shocked by the compromised and distorted statement, marred with deceptive intentions credited to the Deputy Director of the army Public Relations 82 Division Aliyu Yusuf, that the alleged killing was perpetrated by unknown gunmen in military camouflage.
“That was a height of unofficial assault on Ndigbo. We urge the military to apologize to Ndigbo as we have uncovered from intelligence report that Cpl Ajayi was arrested on Wednesday while trying to flee the region.
“This contradicts the earlier fantastic falsehood dish out to deceive the public.
“We commend Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his timely intervention to halt further violent protest that would have lead to reprisal attacks on the military by Biafra agitators and angry Igbo youths.
“The killing of late Chimaobi Nwaogu Uzuoukwa is the height of unofficial brutality and corrupt practices committed across the 95 LGA to the South East
“As Ndigbo awaits the unreserved apology from the military, we wish to call aggrieved persons, youths and Biafra agitators to shelve off any planned violent protests or reprisals attacks as Abia State Government had brought succour to the deceased family.
“There’s no need to retaliate against the military, we believe that our 12 pages petitions to United Nations, and Africa Union on the unprofessional misconduct and corrupt practices against the military in the South East Nigeria.
“The excesses and genocidal tendencies of the military must be checkmate and sanitatized.
“Igbo Youths mourn Chimaobi Nwaogu Uzuoukwa and ask God to Grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss.”
