Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the President of Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo, has unequivocally distanced himself and Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), from the recent killings of soldiers in parts of the South-East.
In a statement addressing the tragic incident, Iwuanyanwu expressed deep sadness, emphasizing that Kanu did not issue any directives for the sit-at-home protest that preceded the violence.
During a visit to Kanu in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), Iwuanyanwu appealed to President Bola Tinubu to leverage his political influence to secure Kanu’s release.
Additionally, he called for urgent restructuring of the country to address underlying grievances.
Last week, IPOB declared May 30 as a sit-at-home day to honor fallen heroes and heroines of the Biafran civil war.
The observance paralyzed commercial and economic activities across Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia, and Ebonyi states, with widespread closures of banks, schools, markets, and other public places.
While Nigerian authorities often attribute attacks in the southeast to IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, IPOB constantly denies involvement in such violence.
Nnamdi Kanu, currently in government custody, faces charges of treason after being extradited to Nigeria. His detention has reignited tensions in the region, where separatist sentiments remain potent.
The specter of separatism evokes painful memories of Nigeria’s civil war from 1967 to 1970, which claimed over one million lives.
Amidst this backdrop, security forces grapple with multiple security challenges across the country, including jihadist insurgency, kidnapping, and piracy, underscoring the complex security landscape facing Nigeria.
As investigations into the recent violence continue, Iwuanyanwu’s call for peace and dialogue resonates amidst the tumult, emphasizing the urgent need for a holistic approach to address the root causes of unrest in the region.