Tochukwu Chukwu
….. call on all igbo groups, Activist to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Ambassador Professor George Obiozor has condemns the incident that happened in lagos involving the killing of three igbo traders by a Military officer
Calling on all igbo association and activists in Nigeria and diaspora to intervene in the matter to its logic conclusion ,vowing that “this is the end of the road for blood-thirsty officer that knows little or nothing about military professionalism and acceptable rules of engagement with the civilians”
It can be recalled that the Nigerian Military on Tuesday caused the death of three Igbo traders at the Aguiyi Ironsi International Trade Centre, in the Paramo area of Ladipo Market, Lagos
Ohanaeze also Recalled that, what happened was that a military man came with his orderly in the morning to change a spare part that he bought from a trader in the market since last week. He came to change it because it did not work, but the military man did not wear his uniform when he came into the market.
“When he was leaving, the union boys at the entrance of the gate told him to pay N200 for gate pass. But because he refused to pay, it turned into a fight and the boys beat the military man and his orderly. So, he went back to his base, returned with three other boys and everywhere scattered as they started shooting”.
Speaking in statement made available to newsmen on Friday by the National publicity secretary Ohanaeze Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, Ohanaeze described the incident as most cruel, brutish, barbaric, cowardly and premeditated. Says “this incident is unacceptable”
Stating the Igbo have always paid the supreme prize with fortitude and equanimity, in various circumstances even beyond the degrees of their daily activities
Stressing that “it is very strange that the cruel blood thirsty group among the soldiers have left the members of the Boko Haram, bandits, abductors and kidnappers to brutalize the very civilians they are paid to defend and protect.
“This is the end of the road for the blood-thirsty officer that knows little or nothing about military professionalism and acceptable rules of engagement with the civilians.
“Most of the time, the culprits or perpetrators are not identified; but in this case, the timid military officer that mobilized his boys for a massacre is known. This is the end of the
“We therefore, calls on the Okaiwu Lagos, Igbo Lagos, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos and indeed all the Igbo associations and activists in Nigeria and in the Diaspora to leave no stone unturned in pursuing this matter to its logical conclusion; bearing in mind that the killing of three Igbo traders is a dot in an Igbo circle.
Ohanaeze further called on the Governor of lagos state His Excellency Babatunde sanwo-Olu to use the awful incident to reshape the civilian- military relationships in lagos state.
“In sympathizing with one of the decent detribalized governors in Nigeria, His Excellency Babatunde Sanwo-Olu, we call on the legendary distinctive leader to use this awful incident to reshape the civilian-military relations in Lagos State.
“We also call on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that the bad eggs in the Nigerian military are isolated and adequately punished as a deterrence to others.
Reacting to the incident as reported by Ohanaeze The NAF’s Director of Information and Public Relations (DOPRI), Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet told The Nation that” the service’s personnel attached to the Operation (OPs) MESA were in the market in response to a distress call. He said a call was put across by traders on a fight going on between a soldier of the Nigerian Army (NA) and a civilian debtor. Gabkwet said upon the receive of the call, the team moved to the market but was attacked by angry traders who pelted stones at them”.
Also Spokesman for Nigerian Army’s 81 Division, Major Olaniyi Osoba said “the matter was being investigated, assuring the army would unravel what actually happened”
Precious Chukwuwa
