Militarizing Enugu Archives

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, the top Igbo sociocultural organisation, refuted IPOB’s (Indigenous People of Biafra) accusations that Governor Peter Mbah is militarising Enugu State.

The claim was made by IPOB in a statement released by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful.

Powerful declared that it was unethical and inappropriate to militarise and degrade the residents of Enugu State under the pretence of removing the sit-at-home order.

Sit-at-home: IPOB Warns Gov Peter Mbah From Militarizing Enugu

However, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, the national president of the Ohanaeze Youth Council Worldwide, told media on Friday that there had been no cases of intimidation or degrading treatment of Enugu citizens by the security forces stationed there to quell criminal activity.

Governor Mbah, according to Okwu, should be praised rather than demonised, and the presence of security agencies at crucial locations in the State had built the confidence of residents.

He claimed that a few weeks prior, thieves were unchecked in Enugu, attacking and robbing locals. Also on the search were kidnappers, which made the locals fearful.

“But the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah rose to the occasion and this resulted in the huge deployment of security agencies, including the police and the military.

“Every Enugu resident can attest to the fact that normalcy has returned to the State, with criminals now having it rough. It is therefore, totally unjustifiable to now turn and accuse the Governor of militarising the State.

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“May we ask: should Enugu continue to be left at the mercy of non-state actors? If the security agencies are after sit-at-home enforcers, why should be a worry to the IPOB, having disowned the sit-at-home order?”

Okwu declared that Enugu people were happy with the Governor for restoring their confidence, which he said “is responsible for the failure of the two weeks sit-at-home declared by Simon Ekpa.

“Enugu people are comfortable with the presence of security agencies; those not comfortable with it might have something up their sleeves.”

The governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, has been urged by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to stop militarizing the region under the pretence of lifting the sit-at-home order.

According to IPOB, those who counsel him to use excessive force against those attempting to impose the sit-at-home order are out to get him.

The IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, stated that it was wrong to use security personnel to intimidate and degrade the residents of Enugu State.

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Powerful claimed in a statement that Mbah should take on governance and not squander state funds trying to end the sit-at-home movement.

The statement reads: “In as much as IPOB has suspended Monday’s sit-at-home that has been going on in Biafraland, nevertheless, we condemn the mishandling of the current situation by the Enugu State Governor, Mr. Peter Mbah. The use of security forces to harass, intimidate, and humiliate our people in Enugu State is *not* acceptable.

“Barr. Peter Mbah should have known that he was voted into office for good governance not to waste time chasing shadows and wasting state-scarce resources in quest of stopping the infamous sit-at-home.

“The former Governor of Enugu State Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, strategically managed the marauders enforcing sit-at-home without escalating the situation. Within a month of Barr. Mbah’s office as a governor, more than five innocent people have been murdered as a result of carelessness and mismanagement of the situation.

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“Governor Peter Mbah should know that those advising him to use excessive force to stop the sit-at-home are setting him up against the people. Governor Mbah is just escalating the sit-at-home that is fading out naturally with a show of force. Other states are now going about their normal businesses peacefully? We wonder if he is helping to enforce the sit-at-home with murderous Nigeria Security Agents or creating a quiet environment for Enugu residents to move about their businesses.

“We advise Barr. Peter Mbah to follow the trend of things and stop the militarization of Enugu State. Some people will be afraid to go about their normal business with the military siege of the State going by the antecedents of the military who have a penchant for abductions, humiliation, and murder of innocent Biafran civilians.

“IPOB has stopped Monday sit-at-home, many occasions and series of press releases issued to that regard and the situation is gradually easing, but we are surprised as to why Mbah should be using force to compel Biafrans who are voluntarily observing it in solidarity with Mazi Nnamdi KANU to come out. Most Biafrans are not observing Monday sit-at-home because of Simon Ekpa. Biafran’s solidarity is with Mazi Nnamdi KANU. That’s why our people have ignored Simon Ekpa’s 2 weeks treacherous sit-at-home and have gone about their businesses.”

Militarizing Enugu

Ohanaeze Counters IPOB, Says ‘Enugu People Comfortable With Military Presence’

Sit-at-home: IPOB Warns Gov Peter Mbah From Militarizing Enugu