- The group demands immediate and unconstitutional release of all those arrested on Friday 31, May 2024 in Aba and Obingwa LGA
The Ohanaeze Youth Council has urged Governor Alex Otti of Abia State to cease the unlawful arrest and torture of innocent Igbo youths in Aba following the killing of five soldiers last Thursday.
Reports indicate that gunmen, allegedly enforcing a sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on May 30 to commemorate the Igbo lives lost during the Nigeria-Biafra civil war (1967-1970), killed some soldiers stationed at the Obikabia Junction Checkpoint in Obingwa Local Government Area near Aba.
In response to the killings, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters pledged to take decisive action against IPOB and its militant wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
In an open letter to Governor Alex Otti, the Ohanaeze Youth Council, the leading Igbo socio-cultural youth organization, condemned the killings and other criminal activities in the South East. Nonetheless, the OYC emphasized that these actions should not justify the military’s targeting of innocent youths.
“Attention of Ohanaeze Youth Council has been drawn to the intimidation, maltreatment and illegal arrest of innocent Nigerian citizens in Aba, Abia State by the Nigerian military because of the killing of four Nigerian soldiers by unidentified gunmen on 30th May 2024.
“Your Excellency, Ohanaeze Youth Council can’t subscribe to any criminal elements in any disguise ravaging and terrorising Alaigbo. However we appeal to you to use your executive order to stop the ongoing illegal arrest, maltreatment and intimidation of the innocent civilians in Aba, Abia State by the Nigerian military.”
While the group demands immediate and unconstitutional release of all those arrested on Friday 31, May 2024 in Aba and Obingwa LGA, OYC urged the Governor Otti to ensure that those involved in the killing of the soldiers were arrested and made to face the law.
“Your Excellency, we want to remind you that it has been a tradition of Nigerian military to unleash their anger on the innocent civilians each time they are attacked by criminal elements in any part of Alaigbo. This unprofessional attitude by the Nigerian military of killing or arresting and detaining innocent civilians shouldn’t be allowed to happen in your administration.
“We know that as a good democrat, you will swing into action to ensure that all innocent civilians arrested by Military in Aba Abia state are released with immediate effect and also stop further illegal arrest of innocent civilians to avoid unhealthy mass provocation in Aba, Abia State that might lead to civil unrest,” the letter which was signed by the group’s President and Secretary, Comrades Igboayaka O Igboayaka and Ifeanyi Nweke respectively read.
The letter was titled: “An open letter by Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) to Dr Alex Otti requesting for prompt intervention on the intimidation, maltreatment and illegal arrest of innocent citizens by Nigeria Military in Aba.”