Ejiofor has opened up on IPOB’s involvement in the Ihiala Massacre.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that following the viral video of the arrest of one of the suspected masterminders of the Ihiala massacre, in Anambra state, the Counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, on Tuesday advised the security agents not to be quick in tagging IPOB, with every crime as doing so was discouraging community citizens participation in fighting against crime perpetrators in Igboland.
Ejiofor spoke to newsmen in Owerri while commending the Security agent efforts that led to the arrest of one of the suspects in the Ihiala massacre.
ALSO: FreshSight Communications Launches, Offering Tailored PR Services
He argued that based on the self-confession of the suspect, it showed that the suspects who carried out the attack were from the same Ihiala community and not from any neighbouring states. Therefore, Ejiofor concluded that they were not freedom fighters.
While calling for greater collaboration between the security and citizens to battle these criminals in Igboland, he said: “I watched the trending video of one of the masterminds of the Ihiala massacre, who has been arrested by security agents. Security is indeed a collective responsibility, and we commend our security agents for their significant achievements in tackling crime. While appreciating this progress, I humbly offer the following observations for consideration:
“The confessed murderer, responsible for recent heinous acts in Ihiala and its environs, appears to be an indigene of the Ihiala community, not an outsider from any neighbouring state. The accomplices he mentioned in the clip are reportedly residents within the community, rather than hiding in remote forests as previously assumed. This underscores the need for greater community vigilance.
“While publicizing this confession helps raise awareness about the culprits terrorizing our land, I believe making it viral at this stage may be premature.
These individuals are criminals and should be treated as such. They are not freedom fighters or defenders of any cause – they are agents of chaos, darkness and destruction.”
It was his view that; “The tendency to prematurely but mischievously associate every violent crime in the Southeast with IPOB/ESN, even before the commencement of investigation and without thorough investigations, weakens citizens’ participation in combating our common enemies who thrive on fear and bloodshed.”
“Security must not be left solely to government agencies. Communities must actively identify and confront these criminal elements to restore peace. Investigations should inform appropriate unbiased classifications of offenders.
No true Igbo or Biafran will align with these heartless criminals who kill, maim, and kidnap their people. They are soulless and should face justice for their actions.”
“Effective collaboration between citizens and security agencies is essential. It eliminates political compromises, fosters proactive responses, and significantly curbs violent crimes in our communities. We pray for the eradication of these bad elements, guided by strong political will. May God heal our land and restore peace to Ihiala, Anambra and the entire Southeast, Amen. Let us all rise to the challenge, take responsibility for our security, and work together to reclaim the sanctity of our communities. United, we can overcome,” he said.
