Nigerian Eye

Nothing will stop ongoing operation in Southeast – Nigerian Army

<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The 82 Division of the Nigerian Army on Sunday declared that its ongoing Field Training Exercise Codenamed Exercise EGWU EKE (Python Dance) II in the Southeast region will continue.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Soldiers have been carrying out raids against members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and their leader, Nnamdi Kanu.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The declaration may not be unconnected will calls by stakeholders, including Southeast governors, for withdrawal of troops.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">But Army explained that the Exercise which started on 15th September and will last till 14th October 2017, is meant to sharpen the skills the troops in the conduct of Internal Security Operations.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">This is contained in a statement by Colonel Sagir Musa, Deputy Director Public Relations 82 Division Nigerian Army.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Musa said the exercise is also aimed to combating the security challenges in the Southeast and is well equipped to deal with the rising cases of insecurity such as kidnappings, farmers-herdsmen clashes, cultism, armed robbery, communal crisis, violent secessionist agitations, insurgency among others.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">It reads further: “For emphasis, it is necessary to restate that the exercise and similar ones with different coded names in some parts of the country were deliberately initiated and conducted with an overarching aim of checkmating identified security challenges prevalent in the regions where they were carried out.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">“Some of the successful military exercises include: Operation Sharan Daji in tackling livestock rustling and armed banditry in the Northwest; Operation Awatse to tackle militants and oil installation vandals in South-West, especially in the creeks between Lagos and Ogun States; Operation Shirin Harbi in addressing restiveness in the North-East, especially Bauchi and Gombe States; Op Shirin Harbi in containing the rein of killers in Southern Kaduna; Op Harbin Kunama in resolving rustling and armed banditry in forest along Sokoto-Zamfara axis and Op Crocodile Smile, popular in the South-South to combat Criminal elements engaged in the the destruction of oil pipelines and installations.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">“The first PYTHON DANCE exercise was carried out in the South Eastern Region from 27 November – 27 December 2016. The peculiar security challenges in the region such as kidnapping, abduction, armed robbery, farmers – herdsmen clashes, communal crisis, traffic gridlock and violent secessionist agitation among others as the targets of this Exercise were successfully addressed.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">“The concept of the current Exercise, like the previous one is purely Command Post, Field Training and Real Time Exercise.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">“It is aimed to enhance troops’ agility and preparedness across spectrum of contemporary and emerging security challenges peculiar to South Eastern Region.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">“The Exercise is three in one, in that – it was – deliberately designed as – a Command Post Exercise that transmuted into Field Training Exercise and where necessary dovetailed into real time mission or activities such as anti kidnapping drills, Patrols, Raids, Cordon and Search, Check Points, Road Blocks and Show of Force.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">“One interesting aspect of the Exercise is that it is multi agency in nature and execution. Relevant Para-Military organizations such as elements of the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, State Security Services and Federal Road Safety Commission synergized and collaborated to ensure successful execution and attainment of outlined objectives.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">“Also, the non-reliance on only Military Line of Operation to achieve the end states of the exercise was part of the texture of the strategy. For this reason, an elaborately generous Civil – Military Cooperation Line of Operation had been successfully planned and executed during this exercise.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">“In this regard, some relevant Nigerian Army Corps and Services such as the Medical Corps and Engineers Corps carried out medical outreaches, roads and schools repairs across the South Eastern Region.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">“On the whole, the exercise has numerous objectives. Some of which are; to practice participating units on planning, preparation and conduct of Internal Security Operations, intensify training on Counter Terrorism and Internal Security Operations as well as to deter the activities of kidnappers, cultists, armed robbers and violent secessionist agitators.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">“Others are – synergizing with relevant Para- Military services to address the identified threats and sharpening the skills of troops towards curtailing current and emerging security challenges peculiar to the South Eastern Region.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">“Please note, Exercise EGWU EKE II is not targeted at any individual or group, as law abiding citizens are advised to go about their normal businesses without fear.”</div>
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Latest-News Nothing will stop ongoing operation in Southeast – Nigerian Army

The 82 Division of the Nigerian Army on Sunday declared that its ongoing Field Training Exercise Codenamed Exercise EGWU EKE (Python Dance) ...

IG of Police warns Nigerians using firearms illegally

12:09 Unknown 0

<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has vowed that the police will not allow criminal elements hold sway in the country.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">He stated that the Police under his watch will not spare anyone who raises his gun to fire at innocent citizens.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">He added that his administration would keep reviewing the template of security in order to make it easy for the police to smoke out criminals from their hideouts</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Speaking with journalists in Abuja, IGP Idris said: “We will regularly review the template for providing security from time to time.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">“This is to ensure that we smoke out criminals from their hideouts. We are not going to spare or think twice about anyone who raises his gun to fire at innocent citizens, we will not allow that hand to come down.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">“I say this with all sense of purpose. But we cannot achieve this without the support of community leaders and the help of all Nigerians.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">“All kidnap suspects in our custody will be prosecuted as soon as investigation in each case is concluded. And for policemen who engage in the war against kidnappers, they will be rewarded accordingly.”</div>

Latest-News IG of Police warns Nigerians using firearms illegally

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has vowed that the police will not allow criminal elements hold sway in the country. ...

Presidency reacts to Obasanjo’s call on Buhari to negotiate with Nnamdi Kanu

12:09 Unknown 0

<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The Presidency has reacted to comment by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the agitation by leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Obasanjo recently urged Buhari to meet and negotiate with the IPOB leader over his struggle for secession.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Reacting, Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina described Obasanjo’s remark as a personal opinion.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Speaking on Saturday with newsmen, Adesina maintained that Obasanjo’s comment was not a law or a rule.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">“It is an opinion that he has proffered and when you proffer an opinion, it is not a law or a rule”, he said.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">“It is now left for the person who was given the advice to consider it.”</div>

Latest-News Presidency reacts to Obasanjo’s call on Buhari to negotiate with Nnamdi Kanu

The Presidency has reacted to comment by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the agitation by leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, I...

'IPOB challenged sovereignty of Nigeria'

08:54 Unknown 0

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Former Abia Governor Orji Kalu has accused the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by Mr. Nnamdi Kanu of challenging the sovereignty of Nigeria.<br />
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For that reason, he justified the deployment of troops in the South East region to checkmate the activities of IPOB.<br />
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The current military operation in the South-East, code-named “Operation Python Dance II” Kalu explained was intended to stem the rising wave of kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes in the area.<br />
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He said that the current tension resulting from the actions of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu could have been avoided, if he had respected his bail conditions.<br />
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“If Kanu had abided by his bail conditions, all these would not have happened.<br />
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“If the court gives an order, you are bound to abide by it whether good or bad. Then you can return to court to challenge the order.”<br />
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Kalu who is supports the clamour for the restructuring of Nigeria, explained that such a step is not a break-up of the country and quickly reminded his kinsmen that the break-up of Nigeria will not be in their interest.<br />
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He spoke on the side-line of the opening of the 2017 Annual Youth Summit organised by Junior Chamber International (JCI), Ikoyi, in collaboration with Orji Uzor Kalu Foundation at his ‘Camp Neya’ country home in Igbere, Bende Local Government Area of Abia.<br />
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Kalu said that given the huge investments by Ndigbo in different parts of the country, the people of South-East stood to suffer more than any other tribe, should Nigeria split.<br />
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Ndigbo, he advised, should stop boxing themselves to a corner because they were serious contenders and members Nigeria.<br />
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He, therefore, advised those agitating for the dissolution of Nigeria to have a rethink and work toward achieving peace and harmony in the country.<br />
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“The struggle for Biafra is not a serious one. Those agitating for the break-up of Nigeria should stop.<br />
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“Ndigbo should rather struggle for equity and justice so that they can feel safe to live and work in any part of the country.<br />
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“It is true that Ndigbo are marginalised but even our own people have at one time or the other also marginalised us.”<br />
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Kalu, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, lent his support to the call for the implementation of the 2014 National Conference recommendation on restructuring the country.<br />
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“Nigeria has grown beyond the level where governors should continue to converge in Abuja every month to share Federal Allocation.”<br />
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The former governor also underscored the need for the creation of an additional state in the South-East to bring it at par with other geo-political zones in the country.

Latest-News 'IPOB challenged sovereignty of Nigeria'

Former Abia Governor Orji Kalu has accused the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by Mr. Nnamdi Kanu of challenging the sovereignty o...

Nnamdi Kanu flees, goes into hiding

08:44 Unknown 0

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<b>The founder of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, and top leaders of his group have gone into hiding following Friday’s declaration by the Nigerian Army that IPOB and other Pro-Biafran groups were terrorists organisations.</b><br />
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Investigations revealed that Kanu and his top lieutenants had ‘disappeared’ from his country home in Afaraukwu near Umuahia and other places he frequently visited.<br />
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His father, Eze Israel Kanu, is the traditional ruler of the town.<br />
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Some IPOB members, who spoke on conditions of anonymity explained that Kanu and others were advised to go underground following the declaration by the Army and the decision of the South-East governors to proscribe activities of pro-Biafra agitators in the region.<br />
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An IPOB member said, “We have to apply wisdom to whatever we are doing. We have realised that there is a grand conspiracy against Kanu and other top leaders of our group.<br />
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“Just imagine barely few hours after the Nigerian military declared members of IPOB and other pro-Biafran groups as terrorists, our own governors came up with their own outright ban of our activities.<br />
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“This definitely will give the soldiers and other security agencies the opportunity to arrest our leader and mount a deadly clampdown on all IPOB members. So, it is better to operate from a hideout for now.”<br />
<b><br /></b><b>I can’t disclose my brother’s location — Kanu’s brother</b><br />
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When contacted on phone on Saturday, Kanu’s younger brother simply identified as Fine Boy, refused to reveal where his brother was, adding that only the IPOB leader could disclose his hiding place.<br />
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He said, “Only my brother can tell Nigerians where he is, I can’t. I don’t know why the Army should call IPOB a terrorist organisation, it is out of their desperation to arrest Nnamdi and frustrate the Biafran struggle. We have petitioned the United Nations and the European Union.<br />
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“The world knows that IPOB is a non-violent organisation, we don’t carry arms, we don’t kill, and we believe violence can never solve any problem.<br />
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“Nnamdi will soon disclose his current location and IPOB will also react to the proscription of the group by the South-East governors’ forum.”<br />
<b><br /></b><b>Security agencies comb South-East for Kanu, others</b><br />
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Security agencies have started combing the South-East region in search of Kanu.<br />
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Findings by our source in Abuja showed that the security agencies had been directed to arrest Kanu and other leaders of his group.<br />
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The directive to arrest the IPOB leaders was said to have been communicated to the leaders of the security agencies deployed in the region.<br />
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The security agencies that were given the directive, according to investigations, include the military, the police and the Department of State Services.<br />
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It was gathered that the government felt that it could be dangerous to leave Kanu a free man till the next adjourned date when his case would come up at an Abuja Federal High Court.<br />
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His case is said to be coming up later in October.<br />
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A top security sources said, “We are seriously looking for him. He has a lot of things to explain to the government concerning his statements, actions and activities.<br />
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“We can’t sit by and allow the security situation in the country to be compromised to the extent that an individual will be challenging the Federal Government.<br />
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“Government has to do something about an individual that is recruiting young people, giving them uniforms, arming them and referring to them as a secret service.<br />
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“We have been seizing arms and ammunitions at the ports; we also need to know what they were meant for.<br />
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“This is someone who unilaterally said there would be no election in Anambra State and some people want us to allow him continue with his activities? No, we need to grow above our ethnic and tribal sentiments.”<br />
<b><br /></b><b>South-East govs disloyal — IPOB</b><br />
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IPOB on Saturday night condemned the South East Governor’s Forum over its proscription of IPOB’s activities. Its media and publicity secretary, Emma Powerful, said the speed with which the governors announced the proscription of IPOB activities showed that the governors were disloyal.<br />
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IPOB said, “We want to find out how the governors who do not know the foundations of IPOB, would make such a statement when they know that IPOB had staged 297 peaceful protests and rallies both at home and in Diaspora without a single record of violence or crime.<br />
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“With the record on ground, IPOB under Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is one of the most peaceful organised freedom fighting group in the world today. It is dangerous that the governors who are the chief security officers of their respective states in the zone would decide to hand over their people to the enemies who were out to kill, maim and destroy because of their selfish reasons. We are also aware that late Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and General Philip Effiong protected their people during the first pogrom and ethnic cleansing from 1966’to 1970.<br />
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“These governors and their collaborators are in the forefront to eliminate our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other peaceful members of IPOB. It is on record that IPOB activities are peaceful since the inception and nobody can prove where and how IPOB activities became violent over night.<br />
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“The solders brought in to eliminate or murder our leader and IPOB members, including the innocent civilians across Biafra land, are still going from house to house picking anyone suspected to be IPOB or seen with any Biafra insignia. IPOB under Kanu must remain a nonviolent group in the pursuit for Biafra freedom, despite the high handedness meted against IPOB members and our leader.”<br />
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Ohanaeze Ndigbo also faulted Nigeria army’s declaration of IPOB as a terrorist organisation. Ohanaeze said, “IPOB is not a terrorist organization going by extant national and international laws, especially the terrorist prevention Act 2011, as amended in 2015.”<br />
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It however praised the South-East Governors for stopping conflict in the region. In a communique read by the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, the group condemned the military operation in the zone and urged the army to terminate the exercise henceforth.

Latest-News Nnamdi Kanu flees, goes into hiding

The founder of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, and top leaders of his group have gone into hiding following Friday’s declara...

Igbo traders attaked in Sokoto

08:44 Unknown 0

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Palpable fear gripped residents of Sokoto State as some youths, on Saturday, attacked Igbo traders in the state.<br />
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The incident, which visibly shook Igbo merchants on Bello Way and Emir Yahaya areas of Sokoto metropolis, forced other Igbo traders at nearby Sahara street to close down their shops and run for safety.<br />
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It was learnt that armed youths, in their hundreds, set ablaze a building along Bello Way, where Igbo traders have shops.<br />
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One of the victims, identified as Chief Okafor, said, “My house was razed by some suspected arsonists.<br />
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“I got a call from my wife that some youths had invaded my house and set it ablaze. My family narrowly escaped the attacks.”<br />
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Another victim, William Emmanuel Usoh, told journalists that his Honda Civic car was torched by some unidentified youths along Emir Yahaya Road.<br />
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Usoh explained that the timely arrival of men of the Nigeria Civil Defence and Security Corps, however, prevented the youths from destroying more property in the area.<br />
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When contacted, the President-General of Igbo Community in Sokoto State, Charles Uwaga, confirmed the incident.<br />
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He said reports reaching him indicated that some of his members were attacked within the state capital.<br />
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“A member just called me that his house was razed. There were also cases of vandalised shops,” Uwaga said.<br />
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Reacting to the development, the state government urged all residents to go about their activities without fear of molestation.<br />
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The government stated that arrangements had been put in place to protect lives and property.<br />
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The spokesman for Governor Aminu Tambuwal, in a statement, said the unrest in other parts of the country, especially the South-East, would have no negative effect on residents of Sokoto.<br />
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He lauded the people of the state for being their brother’s keeper and urged them to engage in acts that will promote unity and understanding at all times.

Latest-News Igbo traders attaked in Sokoto

Palpable fear gripped residents of Sokoto State as some youths, on Saturday, attacked Igbo traders in the state. The incident, which v...

No reasonable Igboman will support Biafra - Governor Okorocha

08:39 Unknown 0

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Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has said that no reasonable Igboman would support secession or division of the country.<br />
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According to him, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) , Nnamdi Kanu should be treated as a single individual because reasonable Igbo people have condemned the group in all ramifications.<br />
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Governor Okorocha spoke on Saturday, September in Owerri at the new Yam festival organized by the State Council of Traditional Rulers headed by HRM Eze Samuel Ohiri.<br />
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“Everyone has condemned IPOB in all ramifications and I say that whatever that young man is doing does not have the support of any of us. He should be picked up and treated as a single individual. No reasonable Igbo man is asking for secession. No reasonable Igbo man will support the division of this country.<br />
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“I want to remind all Nigerians that Igbos are the people that fought the last war and if there was anyone so badly affected by that war is the Igbos. After the war, the 1st group of people to run to different ethnic groups and all other tribes for purpose of economic development was the Igbos.<br />
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“The Igbos today in their thousands are in Kano, the Igbos today in their thousands are in Lagos, in Plateau and in all nooks and crannies of this country. And wherever you find them, they behave as if they are the owners of the land, even in most cases; they have Ezes in the communities where they find themselves, showing that they believe in the unity of this country.<br />
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“The Igbos business men have more real estates and more properties and assets outside Igbo land than in Igbo land. So, I want to dissociate Igbos from this very thing that Igbos want to go for secession. A man that wants to go for secession cannot build mansions in Lagos, Kano, Plateau and the rest of the States.<br />
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“I think we should single out this act of this young man from the rest of Nigerians. My worry again stands strongly on the fact that today, the issue of IPOB is being politicized. Today, most of them that never worked with the Buhari-led government are using this as an opportunity to fight the Federal Government. Call those people to order. It’s not far-fetched who these people are. Some of them are busy visiting Kanu’s house and encouraging him. Those people should make a rethink, because they are not doing this nation any good.”