•Condemns xenophobic attacks in S’Africa
By Adewale Sanyaolu
The Neo Black Movement (NBM) of Africa has threatened to sue the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, the Nigerian Army and a local vigilance group over the arrest and intimidation of its members in Sapele, Delta State.
Addressing the media in Lagos at the weekend, president of NBM of Africa (Worldwide), Felix Kupa, an engineer, equally demanded an apology within 14 days from the police, Army and vigilance group.
The NBM equally condemned the recent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa and called on the Nigerian government to ensure that the South African authorities bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime to justice.
Kupa, who was represented by the group’s national public relations officer, Mr. Clinton Aduba, explained that NBM was yet to come to terms with the inhuman treatment meted out to its members at its Delta Regional Summit, held at the Richmond Continental, Sapele, Delta State, on February 18, 2017.
The NBM president explained that it remained worrisome that the police, after giving approval sequel to an application made to it, provided its officers and men for the security at the event only to turn around to “invade the event in a commando-like manner, completely dehumanising responsible family men, captains of industries discussing world peace and emancipation of the oppressed.
‘‘They did not only invade the event supposedly under their own protection and approval, they went from room to room molesting members who had already retired to their hotel rooms, tied their hands to the back and made them sit on the ground or lie down flat on the floor even when nothing incriminating was found on them and despite being aware of a court judgement affirming NBM’s right to associate. This issue will never be swept under the carpet,’’ he said.
On the mandate of the group, Kupa explained that NBM was a pan-Africanist non-governmental organisation dedicated to the development and growth of the black race and the world in general; its ideologial roots were in the evergreen teachings of great pan-Africanists such as Kwame Nkrumah, Marcus Garvey, George Padmore, W.E.B DuBois, Nnamdi Azikiwe and others.
In Nigeria, he said NBM, through its various constituted initiatives, has instituted various humanitarian projects such as medical initiatives by providing free eye treatment/treatment of the aged in Ijebu Ode, Udu, Warri, and Omuku in Rivers State, and very recently donated relief materials and items to Asaba maternity centre as part of the drive to mitigate maternal mortality rate.
On the legal status of NBM, the national legal adviser of the group, Mr. Hope Aliu, said the movement was a lawful organisation registered under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990, and its Corporate Affairs Commission trustee no. 7729.