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| Kanu's Residence At Aafraukwu |
The recent altercation between the Nigerian military and members of the
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by Nnamdi Kanu was not the
first, but certainly the most daring and brutal.
Prior to this
there has been clashes between IPOB members and security agents in
practically all parts of the South East, Rivers and Delta State.
But none has attracted so much attention compared to the incident of the last few weeks.
We don’t want to go into history of the formation of IPOB and how Nnamdi
Kanu was arrested, incarcerated and released on bail. (That is well
known to all)
Although the bail conditions were so stringent, he
was able to meet it due to the support of some notable South leaders
like Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe,T A Orji,Ike Ekweremadu and the rest.
On release, Nnamdi Kanu was asked to adhere strictly to his bail
conditions. Uppermost was the restriction on granting any Press
Interview as well as not to be seen in the company of not more than
seven people at a time.
How well Nnamdi Kanu adhered to these
conditions is also well known to all Nigerians, we will not want to go
into that in this report too
The current problem for Kanu started
when he insisted on a Referendum to determine the continued coexistence
of the people of the South East in the current enclave called Nigeria.
The advocacy reverberated across Igbo land, and practically Igboman queued behind him on this.
Many Igbos at home and abroad embraced it with open arms. Mobilization
was on. It spread like wild fire. It was so obvious to all and sundry
that this probably was the greatest opportunity for Igbos to get their
“anticipated freedom”.
No one has been able to push and pull
such unanimous voice across Igboland since the end of the civil war
spearheaded by Late Gen Odumegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu.
Nnandi Kanu became the new bride in town, the voice of the voiceless and a clear symbol of the Biafran course.
Even elders were not left out, the educated, semi-literate and
illiterates chorused with one voice (but it should also be noted that
there were still some Igbos who never believed in this agenda,
especially among the elites) but it was obvious that they were in the
minority.
Nnamdi Kanu’s words became law among his teeming
supporters, his words were music to their ears. It was Referendum or
nothing else.
While the Nigerian government were still grappling
with what they would do, Nnamdi Kanu went a bit further to set up a
security arm that he named BSS (Biafra Security Service).
This
was probably the turning point. While some people who hitherto were in
his support tried to call him to order, asking him not to take his eyes
off the ball.
As if that was not enough, Nnamdi Kanu went on to
announce that there will be no Governorship election in Anambra State
come 10th November 2017.
This particular act pitched him against
many Igbos especially from Anambra State who vehemently condemned his
utterances. Notable Igbo sons and daughters like the Ohaneze Ndi Igbo
and Obi Of Onitsha denounced his statement, vowing that the Anambra
election would hold.
His continued utterances and agitation led
to some Northern Youths to give Igbos living in the North an October 1st
2017 order to leave the North. Tension were heightened across the
length and breadth of Nigeria
Emissaries were sent to Nnamdi Kanu to calm down but he remained adamant. The Federal Government at this point were miffed.
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| CKN News Editor In Chief At Ojukwu Bunker |
To stem the tide, the South East Governors in conjunction with some
notable Igbo elders invited Nnamdi Kanu to a meeting in Enugu (which he
attended). Governors Okezie Ikpeazu, Dave Umeanyi, Willie Obiano and
Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi were in attendance. Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha
was represented at the meeting by his Deputy. Others in attendance were
Prof Ben Nwabueze,Pan Igbo group Ohaneze Ndi Igbo and other prominent
leaders of thoughts from the South east.
At the end of the
meeting, it was agreed that Nnamdi Kanu should shield his sword while
avenues for more consultations should be explored.
Nnamdi Kanu
went back to Afaraukwu but it could not be ascertained if he kept to the
agreement reached with the Governors and elders.
THE MILITARY /IPOB CLASH
No one could for sure give an exact explanation to the incident that prompted the IPOB military clash in Umuahia. There were various versions of what happened.
But one thing was clear. The Military had
earlier announced that Operation Python Dance 11 will commence in the
South East in the later part of September 2017.It will cover the entire
five States of the South East.
Few days before the commencement, a
Military team on routine patrol in Umuahia, close to Nnamdi Kanu’s
residence were pelted with stones and bottles by his supporters.
The team retreated and resurfaced 24 hours later. IPOB members were
alerted of the Army presence and they mobilized from several parts of
the South East and Rivers State heading toward Umuahia.Some of them were
intercepted by soldiers and thoroughly beaten up.
Some were made
to lie in water filled muds and made to drink dirty water (Some
residents confirmed that). No one could ascertain if anyone one of them
died in the process.
Nnamdi Kanu’s house was later “invaded “by
the soldiers but he was nowhere to be found.. His whereabouts and that
of his parents were still unknown as at the time CKN News Visited
Umuahia.
There were clashes in Aba too leading to the burning of
the Ariaria Market Police Station by suspected IPOB members which led to
the death of one ASP and the declaration of a dawn to dusk curfew by
the State Governor
CKN NEWS FINDINGS IN UMUAHIA AND ABA.
CKN News arrived Umuahia, Abia State capital on Monday 19th September 2017.Contrary to our expectation, the State Capital was relatively calm on arrival.
Moving round the State capital next day, CKN News
realized that all the Soldiers deployed inside Umuahia have withdrawn
(lending credence to earlier statement of the State Governor). Soldiers
have returned to their earlier checkpoints at (Umuahia Tower) and
Umuopara. They were also noticed at their checkpoint on Aba road on the
outskirt of Umuahia as well as Umuahia Okigwe Expressway as well as at
Uturu.
CASUALTIES
On casualty figures, CKN news investigation from some of those we spoke to us confirmed that two IPOB members were shot dead at a Bank on Bank road in Umuahia close to government house.
Some of those who spoke to us on condition of anonymity confirmed that they were shot by military men.
According to them, the two who were at an ATM booth of one of the Banks
(Name withheld) to withdraw money wearing the BSS T shirt and fez Cap
(which showed that they were members of IPOB ) security outfit. The
soldiers who were on patrol at that time noticed them and without any
warning shot them at pointblank and took away their bodies.
VISIT TO NNAMDI KANU’S TOWN IN AFARAUKWU
A visit to Nnamdi Kanu’s village of Afaraukwu, Umuahia confirmed that life is gradually returning to the community.
A resident who spoke to CKN News said he had to flee the community just
like many others when the place was getting “too hot” for them.
Afaraukwu is less than five minutes’ drive from Government House
,Umuahia.It is also few meters from Emeka Omeruo Government Guest House
Umuahia.
A visit to the town showed a town in total desolation,
people were seen speaking in low tunes. Most of them were reluctant to
speak to strangers out of fear. Commercial activities were at low key.
All around Afaraukwu IPOB presence was noticed on some of the landmarks.Starting from the entrance into his father’s street (who happens to be the the traditional ruler of the town) .
All
electric poles had the Biafran flag colour painted around them..Some of
the buildings were also painted in the same Biafran colour.
Kanu’s father house at Eze Kanu street was deserted during our visit. Some bullet holes were noticed on the walls.
The street was well secured by stern looking detachment of fully armed policemen. No Soldier was insight.
In front of the house was a collapsed green roof tent that had two SUV
vehicles parked under it.The tents rested on the vehicles with shattered
windshields
No one was ready to tell us the whereabouts of
Nnamdi Kanu,his Parents and occupants of the building .The Policemen did
not allow any vehicle into the street.
Further down, just about
two minutes from Nnamdi Kanu’s house was another detachment of Police
with an Armoured vehicle stationed at the entrance of what is known as
the “Ojukwu Bunker”.
The wide expanse of land (compound) houses
the 26 feet underground administrative headquarters of the defunct
Republic of Biafra.
The compound comprises the underground
meeting room, office of the Ex Biafran Head of State, Kitchen, Toilet,
Store room as well as the escape route of the former Biafran leader
.(Videos have been uploaded on our website www.cknnewstv.tv
A ten minutes’ walk from Nnamdi Kanu’s also lies an FM Radio station fully manned by well-armed policemen.
REACTION FROM KANU’S KINSMEN
Some of those spoken to by CKN News at Afarakwu village expressed their
happiness that the Soldiers finally came to their rescue. To them
,Nnamdi Kanu’s return to the community has brought with it a lot of
tension and apprehension among the inhabitants.
According to
them, though Nnamdi Kanu remained a very nice, humble and peaceful
gentleman who goes about his businesses without harassing anyone, but
the activities of his supporters was nothing to write home about.
Their activities paralyzed the activities of the town, some of them
became outlaws who took the laws into their hands. They hoist their
flags everywhere and made so much noise.
The inhabitants and
passersby around the vicinity were made to stand still (at attention)
whenever the “Biafran Anthem “was being played. Vehicular movements also
get disrupted because of their large numbers.
A staff of Ojukwu
Museum “ Ojukwu Bunker” who spoke to CKN News on condition of anonymity
said it was a huge relief to them when the soldiers eventually came and
dislodged the IPOB members.
Asked what happened on the day the
soldiers stormed Nnamdi Kanu’s house,he said they were all taken
unaware. Everyone were going about their normal duties ,when the
soldiers suddenly appear from nowhere and started shooting sporadically
into the air. All IPOB members took to their heels, they scaled fences
jumped into Golden Guinea Breweries, scaled the fence again and found themselves on Aba Road. Others ran into different direction, it was like
a war situation, he said
Some of them were arrested and taken away by the soldiers while many sustained injuries.
No one for sure could tell categorically if they witnessed any one killed by the soldiers.
One of them who volunteered her name as Nkechi said they ran away from their shops when they heard the shooting.
According to her, I did not see anyone killed but I heard from some people that some died but I didn’t see any myself.
Another told CKN News that Nnamdi Kanu had left his residence before
the arrival of the soldiers, it was believed that he got information of
the impending “invasion”.
No one in the community could say if he left with his parents and siblings before their arrival.
Another person who spoke with CKN News in Afaraukwu said Namdi Kanu’s
presence in the community brought a lot of security to the area. No form
of stealing or robbery was recorded in the area.
Asked how they
felt with the latest development and the proscription of IPOB by the
Federal Government, Mr Kanu (not a relation of Kanu) said the government
was wrong in proscribing IPOB.
According to him declaring IPOB a
terrorist group and its proscription was a great injustice to the
Igbos. Her him: IPOB, never carried any arm against the Nigerian
Government, their agitation was genuine, they unlike the Fulani herdsmen
and Boko haram are the real threat to Nigeria’s security and not IPOB”.
Another person who also spoke to us said, IPOB was a good concept but
Nnamdi Kanu blew the opportunity. He was overwhelmed by the massive
support the movement got that it became too big for him to handle, maybe
due to his age.
There were certain decisions and utterances he
made which he shouldn’t have made, probably that costs the ban”. The
South East Governors gave him a window of opportunity which he could
have utilized effectively but he blew it, he concluded.
On his
own Part, Mr Chima Ekene said Nnamdi Kanu’s problem was that he centered
the whole movement around himself, which shouldn’t be.
The movement was about him and him alone, once he was removed, the entire movement collapsed” he said.
Asked if he thinks IPOB was dead, he emphatically said No. IPOB may be
silent for now according to him but the movement cannot die ,it has
gone beyond Nnamdi Kanu he said.
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| Entrance To Nnamdi Kanu Home In Afaraukwu |
Even Nnamdi Kanu dies today,
another movement will come up tomorrow until the marginalization of the
Igbo race is properly addressed by the Nigerian government. He asked the
Buhari’s government to listen to the advice of some notable Nigerians
like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo by calling Kanu to a roundtable discussion
on the way forward.
For Chidi Amaechi, even if Nnamdi Kanu didn’t
achieve anything, atleast he has brought to the front burner the
discuss of restructuring into the main stream of Nigeria’s politics.
Everyone now agrees this is the time for restructuring, that to me is greater than any other thing ,he said .
CKN News also visited the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia where some of those shot during the clash were being treated.
Anayo whom we met at one of the male ward said he came to Umuahia to
see his wife when he was shot in the arm at Aba road .He is nursing a
shattered bone .
Those initially admitted at the emergency ward of the hospital were already discharged as at the time of our arrival.
Report us reaching us from Aba also has it that the situation has been brought under control
Our attempt to speak the soldiers or their spokesmen were unsuccessful.
Also no Abia State government official was on ground to speak on the
matter as they were preparing for the bury of the Chief of Staff to the
Governor who died in Europe. He was buried on Saturday.
Most of
those spoken to by CKN News commended the way and manner Abia State
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu handled the whole situation, but for him,
several innocent people and IPOB members would have lost their lives in
the process.
While leaving Abia, we can authoritatively report
that everything is almost back to normal but we don’t know if the peace
being enjoyed now is that of the graveyard or if IPOB has finally been
silenced by the Nigerian government.
Pictures: Residence Of Nnamdi Kanu, FMC Hospital Umuahia, ..CKN NEWS/CKN NEWS TV
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