The Council of Igbo States in America (CISA) wishes to join other well-meaning people and groups of the World in condemning the unconscionable statement credited to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Alkali Baba Usman, authorizing police officers to “shoot at sight”, suspected members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) without minding the human rights implication of such statement. Numerous media reports have quoted the Inspector General, addressing his men thus, “Don’t mind the media shout; do the job I command you. If anyone accuses you of human rights violation, the report will come to my table, and you know what I will do. So, take the battle to them wherever they are and kill them all. Don’t wait for an order. Don’t sit and wait for them to come; take the attack to them and don’t lose your arms to criminals”. “‘What another order are you waiting for when Mr. President had ordered you to shoot anybody carrying AK-47 rifles? Quote me, even a dead policeman can be tried and dismissed from the force and his family will not get his benefits. So, don’t sit and wait for them to come; take the attack to them and don’t lose your arms to criminals.’ the battle to them wherever they are and kill them all. Don’t wait for an order”.
This statement was made during the launch of Operation Restore Peace in Southeast, in Enugu on May 18, 2021. This has no doubt led to the ongoing genocidal campaign of terror and slaughter of innocent young lgbos, especially, the men by the Nigerian Police Force, the Army, DSS, and other “unknown gunmen” under the pretense of flushing out IPOB members . lgbo cities are encircled, Niger Bridge head closed, innocent men and women bombarded for no justifiable reasons, while Boko Haram is inflicting untold damage to our Northern brothers and sisters in the North. The Statement credited to the IGP is abominable, unconscionable and it is vile in the extreme and, CISA vehemently condemns it and calls on the President of the Federal Government of Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari to caution the IGP (and the armed forces) in the interest of national unity. CISA is also insisting that Operation Restore Peace launched by the police and the military’s clampdown on the IPOB members and the entire South East should be recalled and cancelled by the Presidency in the interest of peace and unity of the country .
The Council of lgbo states in Americas (CISA) is the foremost USA-based diaspora lgbo cultural organization. Annually, CISA celebrates its acclaimed lgbo World Festival of Arts and Culture, which has been attracting Ndi-lgbo, non-lgbos and Americans and cultural lovers worldwide . Through CISA ‘s year-round lgbo school programs, lgbo children born overseas, African Americans and many other Americans are taught lgbo language, arts and culture through CISA-affiliated schools.
The genocidal intent of the Nigerian Federal Government is becoming more apparent, with the wanton extrajudicial killings and gross abuse of people of lgbo extraction by all the armed forces of Nigeria. The concerted and orchestrated nature of assault and the use of sophisticated and heavy weapons, including War Planes supplied by the US and other advanced nations on unarmed and innocent civilians’ smacks of a deadly holistic plan of the Federal government of Nigeria to commit genocide AGAIN in the South East.
While we condemn in the strongest terms ‘ attacks against police officers and other law enforcement agents in the Southeast, the South-South, the Southwest, the North Central, the Northeast, and the Northwest, there are powerful insinuations that even the Federal Government is complicit. We urge the Nigeria Police to painstakingly find out and prosecute those who are guilty of such nefarious and criminal actions against law and order, and to use all legitimate force to prevent such attacks.
However, there can be no justification for the indiscriminate and vicious resort to state violence against Nigerian citizens in
the southeast by the head of the Nigerian police and the other armed forces of Nigeria. Such a reckless statement betrays a determination to punish Nigerian citizens in the region and deprive them of due process protections under the constitution. The IGP is not only giving the green light to human rights violations, but also promising his protection for those who commit them. In addition, he is threatening those who might hang back with the loss of pension benefits, thereby implying that he has the full support of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Other reporting alleges that security services are conducting house-to-house searches in Ebonyi, Imo, and Rivers states, all with large lgbo populations. The entire “Operation Restore Peace” would seem to not only intimidate and make it clear that the Christian dominated South East is not a part of Nigeria. It should be anticipated that local people will fight back viciously and the security services-as directed by the IGP will respond in kind and the proper atmosphere of anarchy and Boko Haram emergence will become inevitable.
CISA appeals to all contending parties to seek peaceful and lawful resolution of their grievances, whether that includes alternative dispute resolution (ADR) or traditional litigation.
In the Light of the above, we, at CISA are therefore calling on the UNITED NATIONS Organization, The US Government, EU, other members of the International Community:
- To call on the government of Nigeria to take all necessary actions to stem this genocidal and wanton killing of Igbos as they are wont to do as part of their quest to Islamize Nigeria.
- Engage the appropriate International instruments to protect the lives and properties of lgbo people and seize the orchestrated extermination of the people.
- Stop the house-to-house search to arrest whomsoever they please, and such persons are never heard from again.
Enough is enough. Let us all give Peace a chance and stop any more bloodshed.
Oga adiri anyi nile mma. Udo diri unu ncha.
Signed:
Dr. Bobby C, Aniekwu, Attorney, (Ozo Ikenga Owa N’ Asaa) – President- CISA.
Chfef Mike Okaka Deputy Sec. Gen. – Security.
