Buhari Govt. Romancing Bandits, Attacking Southern Exponents—Igbo Group

 

Buhari Govt Romancing Bandits, Attacking Southern Exponents—NGO Alleges

 

A Non-Governmental Organisation and Igbo elite club in Nigeria’s Capital, Abuja, Ofu Obi, has condemned what they called selective justice by the Nigerian Government in its approach to solving anti-government campaigns across the country.

Apparently reacting to the recent attack on the house of a Yoruba youth leader, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, by the State Security and Sunday arrest and detention of the leader of Igbo separatist group, Nnamdi Kanu, Ofu Obi said the Nigerian government has been eager to subdue the south while allowing insurgency to fester in the North.

The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, is from the Northern part of the country, particularly from Katsina State, in the NorthWest Nigeria where banditry is most rampant. Boko Haram is more pronounced in the North-East part of Nigeria, particularly, Borno State.

In a statement sent to Discover Africa News on Friday, the Chairman of Ofu Obi, Mazi Okey Nwando said that the Government should be sincere about war against insurgency. 

“It is absurd that the Government give deaf ears to some filthy comments by Sheik Gumi who is ostensibly the spokesman for the bandits. The Bandits are Boko Haram members are allowed to be state actors. No one calls them to order. On the other hand, the same Government has militarised the Southern part of the country. Agents of Government hound and kill unarmed southerners at no or slight provocation”.

“If Nigeria is one country, the Government should treat all citizens equally. Fighting to bring Southern exponents on their knees while allowing Boko Haram and banditry to fester in the North is simply playing the Ostrich ”, Nwando said.

The Ofu Obi helmsman also warned that “ethnic approach” to solving Nigeria’s security problem will further enmesh the country into worse security challenges.   

After Igboho escaped arrest during a search on his house in Oyo state, the Department of State Services (DSS) has initiated a manhunt for Yoruba activist.

DSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya said the security agency discovered illegal guns and ammunition from Igboho’s home, including seven AK-47 rifles. The state services displayed 13 of the activist’s supporters, who were accused of attacking DSS officers during the operation on Thursday morning.

He had planned to hold a rally in Lagos on Saturday to advance his separatist aims – he has been pushing for the formation of a “Yoruba Nation” – before his home was searched.

During a gunfight between the DSS and Igboho’s supporters, Afunanya said, two persons were killed by DSS agents at Igboho’s home.

According to him, the raid was prompted by intelligence that the youth leader “had stockpiled arms in the place.” As the crew approached the residence, nine men, believed to be Igboho’s guards, opened fire on them. Afunanya said six of them were equipped with AK-47 rifles and three more with pump-action rifles.

In the course of the exchange, two of Igboho’s armed men were gunned down while the rest were subdued and arrested. Only one operative who was shot by the assailants on his right hand sustained injury. He has, however, received medical attention and is very stable.

The DSS team then investigated the residence and discovered weapons, ammunition, charms, foreign currency notes, and computers, among other things.

Sunday Igboho and his group, in the guise of campaign for self-determination, have become well-armed and determined to undermine public order. The arrests and seizures are, no doubt, a confirmation of a grand plan by Igboho and his cohorts to wage a violent insurrection against the Nigerian state.

The gun duel, which lasted for an hour, offered Igboho the chance to escape. Sunday Adeyemo, a.k.a., Sunday Igboho, is now on the run. Igboho may run as far as he can. He may hide as long as he wants.

He might have attacked security operatives as his strength carried him, but this will be the end of his shenanigans. Soon, he will not have a hiding place. His strength will sure fail him, and the law will catch up with him. The law may be slow. But it will be steady.

Consequently, Adeyemo or Igboho is advised to turn himself in to the nearest security agency. Those cheering and eulogising him may appeal to or advise him to do the needful. He should surrender himself to the appropriate authorities. He or anyone can never be above the law. Meanwhile, those arrested will be charged accordingly.