Ohanaeze Ndigbo warns FG to withdraw soldiers from South-East

September 12, 2017 8:35 PM

The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, John Nwodo alleged that the soldiers were deployed to intimidate Igbos.

The Igbo socio-cultural group known as

This is coming after the Army allegedly attacked the Abia home of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Sunday, September 10, 2017.

According to Channels TV, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, John Nwodo alleged that the soldiers were deployed to intimidate Igbos.

Nwodo also said that if the military operation is not stopped, it will amount to an invasion of Igbo land.

He said “In a democracy, the level of disenchantment expressed by the people of the South East of Nigeria ought to have provoked a serious dialogue between our people and the federal executive and the legislature.

“History teaches us that the continuous use of force to silence dissent and free speech will only accelerate the growth of dissent and dissatisfaction. Fundamental rights of freedom of expression are critical for a successful democracy.

“Nigeria at this moment does not need such deliberate and proactive escalation of tensions and crisis.

“Our people were shamelessly intimidated and harassed at these check points. Operation Python Dance 1 procured no arrests of criminals that were prosecuted for any of the criminal activities that Operation Python Dance II is supposed to address.

“Instead, it witnessed reckless and indiscriminate murder of self-determination agitators in Asaba, Aba, Nkpor, and Port Harcourt numbering up to 191 by the estimates of Transparency International and shattered public confidence of South-easterners in the Nigerian Army and Police.”

The Abia state government has declared a 3-day curfew from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm starting from Tuesday, September 12 to Thursday, September 14, 2017.