Igbo youths under the aegis of Ohanaeze Youth Council(OYC) have called on Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, to ensure that the Indiscriminate arrest of youths in Abia State is ended.
The army has been accused of arresting youths of Abia Indiscriminately following the killing of their five colleagues by gunmen suspected to be enforcing a sit-at-home order announced by IPOB to mark Biafra’s third day.
The youth group in a letter on Friday signed by its national president, Comrade Igboayaka O Igboayaka and addressed to Governor Otti while condemning the killing of soldiers also called for the release of those arrested on Friday 31st May 2024 in Aba a d Obingwa LGA.
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He said, “Sequel to the barbaric act by unknown and unidentified gunmen that killed four gallant patriotic Nigeria Soldiers among the troops of Operation “UDO KA” of Nigeria Army deployed at Obikabia Junction Checkpoint in Obingwa Local Government Areas adjourning Aba metropolis in Abia State. We’re aware that the deceased soldiers were doing their official duty to protect the lives and properties of Abians. Ohanaeze Youth Council firmly condemns such acts in its entirety.
“On the foregoing, the attention of Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) the Apex Socio-cultural Youth organization of Ndigbo has been drawn to the intimidation, maltreatment, and illegal arrest of innocent Nigeria Citizens in Aba, Abia State by Nigeria Military Force because of the killing of four Nigeria Soldiers by unidentified gunmen on 30th May 2024.
“Your Excellency, Ohanaeze Youth Council can’t subscribe to any criminal elements in any disguise ravaging and terrorizing Alaigbo.
“Furthermore, we appeal to you to use your executive order to stop the ongoing illegal arrest, maltreatment, and intimidation of innocent civilians in Aba Abia State by the Nigerian military. We demand that those arrested on Friday 31st May 2024 in Aba a d Obingwa LGA should be released through your executive order.
“We urge you to endeavour that those involved in the killing of Nigeria Military men should be arrested immediately and made to face the law.
“Your Excellency we want to remind you that it has been a tradition of Nigeria Military force to unleash their anger on innocent civilians each time they are attacked by criminal elements in a y part of Alaigbo. This unprofessional attitude by the Nigerian Military of killing or arresting and detaining innocent civilians shouldn’t be allowed to happen in your administration.
“We know that as a good democrat, you will swing into action to ensure that all innocent civilians arrested by the Military in Aba Abia state are released with immediate effect and also stop further illegal arrest of innocent civilians to avoid unhealthy mass provocation in Aba, Abia State that might lead to civil unrest.”
The Ohanaeze Youth Council’s appeal seeks to prevent further escalation of tension and civil unrest in Aba, Abia State.
