Foremost Civil Rights Advocacy platform – Human Rights Writers Association Of Nigeria (HURIWA) has blamed members of the deep state and foreign mercenaries for executing the vicious attacks on the Abia State cattle market so as to instigate the killings of ndigbo living in the far North and to spread civil conflicts between Igbos and their Northern brethren.

“We urge the OHANAEZE NDI IGBO, Governors of the South East of Nigeria and the Igbo World’s congress to jointly hire forensic and security experts and investigators from any part of the world to uncover the exact identities of the so-called unknown gunmen who the Rights group believed are members of the security forces or foreign mercenaries hired by Miyetti Allah Cattle Owners Association angered by the anti-open grazing legislations in the South East and are now on a mission to start off a civil war by attacking peaceful cattle owners just so the North will boil in anger and to transfer the aggression and reprisals on peaceful Igbo citizens of Nigeria living legitimately with their Northern brothers/sisters.

“We appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to be a stateman and douse the rising tension by releasing the wrong lyrics detained leader of the now proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and initiate broad-based National reconciliation and constructive dialogues among ethnicities to promote National integration and unity in Nigeria. 

HURIWA believes that the ill advised decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to clamp down militarily on the Indigenous People of Biafra is the fundamental cause of the security crisis in the South East because diverse groups with divisive agenda are now seeking to stoke up the embers of disunity”. 

“The video recording of some of the attackers are everywhere. We do not think the Eastern Security Network or the now proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) are responsible for the Abia attacks. We believe even strongly that FIFTH columnists are  out to destabilize South East of Nigeria.”

In a statement by Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko the National Coordinator and the National Media Director Miss Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA explicitly alleged that the South East of Nigeria is under attacks by outsiders who want to cash in on the nebulous anti-cow posture of IPOB to attack Northerners in the East so as to achieve their dare devil agenda and the silence and willful inability of Nigeria’s security forces to uncover who the unknown gunmen are points to a larger conspiratorial plots against the South East of Nigeria by enemies of the Igbos”.

HURIWA recalled that the Abia State Government had confirmed the reported attack by yet-to-be identified gunmen on the newly constructed cattle market in Omumauzor in Ukwa West Local Government Area of the state.

An unspecified number of people were reportedly killed during the deadly attack that occurred late Tuesday evening.
In its reaction, the state government in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Eze Chikamnayo, said, “On Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at about 11:35pm, some yet to be identified hoodlums allegedly invaded traders at the New Cattle Market located in Omumauzor, Ukwa West Local Government Area of our dear state.

“Government responded swiftly by mobilising the various security agencies to the scene that night to secure the lives and properties of the innocent traders and fish out the assailants.

“This was followed this morning by a high powered team made up of the Chief of Staff, Prof ACB Agbazuere; Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Chief John Okiyi Kalu;  Commissioner for Homeland Security, Chief Sopuruchi Bekee; Executive Chairman of Ukwa West LGA, Chief Okey Kanu, in the company with the state Commissioner of Police, Janet Agbede”.

“We are shocked and saddened by this mindless and barbaric act of violence that claimed the lives of about eight innocent citizens of our great country and we totally condemn this dastardly act together with its wicked perpetrators.

“We are working assiduously to provide succour to the families of the victims. Those who sustained injuries are currently receiving medical attention.

“We have equally started the immediate relocation of the traders while working out compensation for lost properties”.

The commissioner further said, “While waiting for the outcome of ongoing investigations by our diligent security forces, the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, together with all Abians pray for God to grant the families of the victims the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

The statement noted that the governor urged citizens to remain law-abiding and promptly report any suspicious movement to the appropriate authorities.

HURIWA has however asked the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to rally round the rest of the political leaders of the South East of Nigeria to launch intensive manhunt of those responsible for the spate of ochestrated violence which is aimed at destroying all of South East of Nigeria just as the Rights group has appealed to all aggrieved persons in the South East of Nigeria to consider the need to promote peaceful coexistence always just as HURIWA has tasked groups in the North to stop sensationalising the unfortunate attacks in the Abia State cattle market which it believed was executed not by Ignos but by those who hate Igbos.

“The Igbo man and woman are the most peaceful and hospitable citizens and are not known for carrying out bloody violence on their visitors who live amongst them.

The Northerners living in the East are like every Igbo person and so the Igbos respects the sanctity of life.”
 

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