Igbo Women under the aegis of Igbo Women Assembly have expressed concerns over the insecurity in the South East.
The women group also described the killings going on across Igbo communities as barbaric and senseless.
The women in a statement issued by their President, Lolo Nneka Chimezie, said they were “utterly appalled at the unprecedented killings going on across Igboland
“Our greatest shock is that these barbaric attacks and senseless killings have continued to fester unchallenged, despite the heavy presence of security operatives and multiple checkpoints on our roads,”Chimeze said.
While calling for investigations to unravel the perpetrators behind the killings, the women leaders called for investigations into the activities of security outfits operating in Imo and Ebonyi States to ascertain their true mission and their links with the boys of a former Niger Delta militant leader “who once claimed that he was engaged by the Federal Government for security operations in the South East”.
How come the conventional security agencies are not enough to quell insecurity in South east that a non state actor had to be hired? Most of the places he said his men were fighting are the hotbeds of the insecurity in Imo State today. Who is actually behind the barbarism in Imo State? Could it be that there is a veiled plot to sponsor a guerrilla war in South East and government is pretending to be fighting insecurity?” the queried.
According to them, “Our findings further revealed that some of the criminals behind the atrocities in the South East are being sponsored to demonise members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB. These criminals are the ones committing all the atrocities, especially in Imo State while the security agencies and media keep pointing accusing fingers at IPoB and ESN (Eastern Security Network)”.
It is true that IPoB started sit-at-home on Mondays to protest the abduction, extraordinary rendition and continued incarceration of its leader, MaziNnamdiKanu. But after so much appeals by Igbo leaders, they discontinued. They have equally consistently distanced themselves from the barbaric killings in South East. Why then have the security agencies continued to point accusing fingers at them without verifiable evidence?
It is also our belief that the federal government cannot pretend to be serious about the restoration of peace in the South East, when it is refused to release NnamdiKanu despite several pleas and Court orders. Since Kanu’s continued detention is alleged to be fuelling the insecurity in South East, simply logic demands that he should be freed as proof that the federal government is genuinely committed to the restoration of peace in the region. We, therefore, challenge Government at the centre to do the needful if indeed, the disturbing situation in Igbo land is not serving its interest.
“Our findings in Imo State revealed the need for further investigations on the link between the troubling insecurity in the state and possible attempt to suppress suspected political enemies. Why have innocent citizens continued to be killed and Government whose primary responsibility is to secure lives and property, done little or nothing to end this silent genocide?
“The senseless killings in South East especially in Imo State can no longer be allowed to fester. Igbo women are determined to take a risk to end this nonsense if the federal and State Governments fail to act expeditiously. Igbo women will rise to defend our ancestral land than watch our children being slaughtered like cows after surviving. This atrocious evil cannot be allowed to go on again. We equally call for an end to the on-going disappearces of youths in Okigwe. We want proper investigation on the identities and real sponsors of these criminals driving away Igbo men and women from their ancestral homes.
“Igbo women are crying out because we know that our political elite have been conquered, coerced and cowed into submission. Igbo women equally want to condemn, in very strong terms, the unprovoked xenophobic attacks against Ndigbo in South Africa, Ghana and even in Lagos. All those behind this animalistic acts – inciting attacks against Igbo both within and outside Nigeria – should retrace their steps”, they warned.
