Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, had decried the senseless killings in Ehime Mbano community of Imo State.
Iwuanyanwu made his feelings known in press release personally signed by him and made available to Ikengaonline in Enugu.
The president general described recent events in the area as sad and unacceptable.
He said: “My heart bleeds at the sad events in Igboland where Igbos are for the first time, killing fellow Igbos.
“I am equally very distressed by the rate at which the Nigerian security operatives are killed not only in Igboland but all over the country.
“Worse still is the suspected reprisal attack where innocent Igbo sons and daughters from Mbano in Imo State have found their lives and means of livelihood completely destroyed.
“This situation is completely unacceptable to me. It is unacceptable to Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and indeed unacceptable to all honest, right thinking and patriotic Nigerians.
“I condemn it in strong terms. I am sending a team immediately under the Chairmanship of Barrister CJ Ihemedu the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Imo State Chapter to give me a comprehensive report on the matter.”
The elder-statesman called on the Federal Government to fish out the perpetrators of this “heinous crime and make sure they face the law.”
“I also urge the Federal Government to put in place necessary security measures to forestall the reoccurrence of this sad event,” he said.
Chief Iwuanyanwu recalled that, similar incidents had occurred in all the states of South-East.
According to him: “As at now there seems to be no solution as the matter is even getting worse.”
He regretted that the sad event was coming at the time Ohanaeze Ndigbo was undertaking a total transformation of Igboland.
“By this transformation, more job opportunities will be created in Igboland for school leavers; and infrastructure for businessmen and women.
“Meanwhile, I wish on behalf of all Igbos worldwide, to express our deep sympathy to the families of the security Men who were gruesomely murdered.
“We also sympathise with our people in Mbano Imo state whose shops and houses were destroyed during the reprisal attack.
“I pray the Almighty God to take control of events in Igboland; so that, we will once more enjoy peace, happiness and prosperity in our land,” Iwuanyanwu said.
