Abia graves: Ohanaeze berates DSS over attack on IPOB

From Chidi Nnadi, Enugu and Okey Sampson, Aba

APEX Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday berated the Department of State Security (DSS) over its al­legation that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was responsible for the kill­ing of five Fulani herdsmen and 50 other unidentified persons whose bodies were found in shallow graves in a forest in Isikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State.

Ohanaeze, in a state­ment signed by its President General, Chief Gary Enwo- Igariwey, said “Ndigbo are curious and very suspicious of the reasons behind the DSS statement, which in­dicted IPOB as responsible for the act.”

He said Ohanaeze con­demned, in very strong terms, such explosive state­ment from a government security outfit.

“Such statements are very unprofessional and ca­pable of inciting the polity and endangering our unity.

“We urge Ndigbo to con­tinue to live in peace with fel­low Nigerians and resist any action that will breach peace in the country.”

He said Ohanaeze was aware that both IPOB and MASSOB had robustly de­nied their involvement in the act.

“We are further aware that the Governor of Abia State, who is the Chief Security Of­ficer of the state said the se­curity organisations in his state, including the DSS were unaware of the discovery as it had not been reported to the State Security Council, which he is the chairman.

“The governors of Abia and Imo states, at a joint press briefing on Monday April 11, condemned the act and attrib­uted it to kidnappers and crimi­nal elements,” he pointed out.

Igariwey noted that Ndig­bo always condemn the act of taking human life in any form anywhere in the coun­try.

He also noted that the Igbo as travellers to other places are friendly to visitors and would not endanger lives of other visitors.

“All Nigerians are, there­fore, assured of their safety in anywhere in Igbo land. Ndigbo commiserate with the families of the deceased and have conveyed same to the leadership of Arewa Consultative Forum,” he said.

The Ohanaeze president general, therefore, called for proper investigation into the matter to ascertain those be­hind the heinous act, saying those who committed the act did not act on behalf of Ndigbo and should be brought to book.

Meanwhile, All Pro­gressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Abia chapter has accused DSS of unprofes­sionalism in the way it han­dled the alleged killing and for the hasty manner it held members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) responsible.

In a statement signed by the chairman of the party in the state, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, APGA berated the security outfit for not exhibiting the best form of professionalism in han­dling the issue which he said was capable of creat­ing disaffection and break­down of law and order.

The party said it was shocked at the attempt by the DSS to link IPOB with the alleged murder of five herdsmen in Abia.