Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, the leading Igbo social and cultural group, has spoken out against the murder of eight security officers in Imo State.
National President Mazi Okwu Nnabuike released a statement detailing the organization’s response.
Okwu lamented the loss of life among the security personnel and remarked that the killings ran counter to the values for which Ndigbo are recognised.
He explained that the Igbo are not accustomed to violence and that they value human life highly.
Killing security personnel or anyone else in such a savage manner goes against the moral and conscience of the normal Igbo man and cannot be justified.
We urge all parties involved in this violence to put down their weapons and start talking.
Recent events have reinforced my belief in the need for a security summit and comprehensive discourse in the South and Southeast, at which all parties with legitimate grievances might have a voice.
We’d like to add our voices to the chorus pleading with the Federal Government to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for the millionth time. Those who have been perpetrating crimes in secret while demanding his release will finally be exposed.
Okwu pleaded with security forces to refrain from attacking the residents of Umuezeala Owerre in Imo State’s Ehime Mbano Local Government Area.
We are cognizant of the indignation and provocations this murder has caused among the various branches of security.
While our hearts go out to the loved ones of the fallen security officers, we urge the Army, the Police, and the NSCDC, whose officers were killed, to exercise extreme caution and not exact revenge on innocent members of the community.
“A misdirected retaliatory attack would only inflict harm on innocent people,” Okwu urged.
