Rights group demand release of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu for peace to return in South-East, knocks Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff

IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu

By Alphonsus Nweze, Onitsha

A human rights group, Congress of Civil Society (CCS) has told Nigeria Government to urgently release the leader of Indigenous People’s of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, for peace to return in South-East of the country.

Reacting to outbursts by Chief of Defence Staff, General Chris Musa, when the Service Chiefs met with the House of Representatives, the group said in the release made available to newsmen in Onitsha, Anambra State, that they were shocked that the CDS accused Simon Ekpa and IPOB as being behind insecurity in the South East, without mentioning the activities of Fulani herders and even the conduct of security operatives in the South- East that fueled the activities of IPOB.

The group in the release endorsed by Comrade Damian Ogudike, Coordinator, Abia State branch of the right group, lamentedt the one sided report by the Military Chief in which he blamed Ekpa but did not say anything at the continuous killings in the North East and North West by members of NBoko Haram and their likes, saying that showed how partisan the Nigerian security outfits were against the South East in everything.

“Just few days ago armed men killed over 50 persons and sacked communities in Zamfara State and oother States in the North. The CDS did not mention it in his report. He turned a blind eye to those killings. That showed how top security operatives in this country use ethnicity to destroy the country in attempt to protect their own,” said the group

The CDS according to the group also alleged that Ekpa’s unguarded actions have resulted in loss of several lives including security personnel, crippling socio-economic activities in the country.

For the avoidance of doubt, said the group, they were not backing Ekpa or holding brief for him but it is unfair to blame the insecurity in the country and South East of the country on him alone while there were more deadly terrorist groups killing Nigerians on daily basis at the backyard of Gen. Musa.

“It is necessary to recall that we warned Nigerian security agencies to stop sending their men to kill IPOB members and apply a peaceful approach in resolving the problem. The former President Umaru Yar’Adua fought MEND in Niger Delta with rifles and machine guns and failed. At last, he introduced Amnesty to all the fighters. This policy and strategy brought the war to an end. Why not use the same approach?”said the group.

They said: From the survey we conducted, the only viable option Nigeria government has is to release Mazi Nnadi Kalu. Releasing Kanu will to a large extent solve the problem of insecurity in the zone. Bullets and guns can never kill idealogy” .
But the group said such demand made by Nigeria may not see the light of the day because Finish Government sees Nigeria as “an irresponsible state which don’t respect neither international laws not their own laws.

“May we remind you CDS that it was on record that the United Nations (UN) committee Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) had on April 4, 2022 adopted a report which stated that Nigerian Government should release Kanu and the said report indicted both your country, Nigeria and Kenya Governments for illegal arrest and extraordinary rendition, torture and continued detention of Kanu in the facility of Department of Security Services (DSS).”

They continued: “Are you aware that the report further gave Nigeria Government six months within which they would state its opinion on Kanu’s matter, steps taken to comply with all the recommendations thereof? Secondly, All Nigeria courts have set Mazi Kanu free from all accusations and allegations yet the Nigerian Government has ignored them and are still holding Kanu.”

They querried “with all these violations of do you think any nation will take Nigeria serious on your demand on Simon Ekpe?

They said, “It is said that he who goes to equity must go with clean hands. CDS, If Federal Government starts to obey both local and international laws Finish Government will listen to your demand.”