Not less than five people were reportedly killed in Aba on Friday as security agencies confronted protesters suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Aba, Abia State.
It was gathered that the IPOB members, all clad in white, had staged a protest calling on the Federal Government to obey court order and effect the release of their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“There is shooting of unarmed and peaceful protesting IPOB members in Aba by Nigerian security operatives,” a source said.
Another source disclosed that the protest started from Assa Road through Azikiwe Road, and “on getting to Amaogbonna, soldiers opened fire on the protesters, leading to commotion and the killing of the five persons”.
But efforts to reach the Army, through its spokesman, and the Police Public Relations Officer, Geoffrey Ogbonna, for comments were unsuccessful as they refused to offer a comment.
Meanwhile, the Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders condemned what it called “the lawless killings of five innocent Igbo hkuths in Aba”.
In a press statement signed by its President-General, Goodluck Ibem, the group called for the immediate arrest, sack, and prosecution of those involved.
The statement read in part: “We received with rude shock the barbaric killing of armless Igbo who were peacefully protesting and demanding for the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, in Aba, Abia State.
“This is wickedness, barbaric, and lawlessness of the highest order. It is only the court of law that has the constitutional powers to give an order for the execution of any offender.”
A government source who would not want to be named said the IPOB should realise that they have been pronounced a terrorist group and should therefore cease to operate anywhere as they would be dubbed an enemy of the state and killed instantly.
“That is the position of the law and except they realise that, they would be making grave mistake believing that the Nigerian Army would be lenient with them, whether they pretend to be peaceful or not.
“Is it not IPOB that has grounded the South-East economy and by implication, the entire country for months through their numerous sit-at-homes? Are they not the ones killing people all over the places and abducting and killing soldiers and security operatives who are even from the zone”?
