Igbo youths demand withdrawal of military from South-east
“Ndigbo will not lead the break-up of Nigeria, but (we) will not be victims of Nigeria Unity.”
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A group of youth in the South-east have expressed worry over alleged secret arrests and killing of youths in the region by the military.
It said the military resorted to labelling every youth as a member of IPOB, a pro-Biafra group that has been proscribed by the Nigerian government.
The youths, under the ageis of South East Igbo Youth Leaders called for the immediate withdrawal of the military from the zone, just as it advised the police and other security agencies to discharge their duties professionally and with dignity.
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There is palpable tension and fear in South-East and South-South states following plans by the Federal Government to deploy more military assets, including troops, intelligence personnel and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the areas.
Already, a clampdown is ongoing, targeted at pro-Biafra groups there including newspaper distributors and vendors selling published materials on Biafra.
The two regions, had, in recent weeks, come under attack by armed groups, who killed policemen as well as burnt police stations and correctional facilities in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo, Enugu, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.
Imo has been the worst hit, as security forces have been combing the communities in search of members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and its vigilante outfit, Eastern Security Network (ESN). ESN commander, Kanayo Nwokike (Ikonso) was recently ‘neutralized’ by security forces in his community, Awomamma in Oru East, Imo State, while