Apex Igbo socio cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, at the weekend, said it has concluded plans to sue the Nigerian military for alleged extra-judicial killings of Igbo youths during the September 2017 “Operation Python Dance II’ across the South geopolitical zone of the country. The Nigerian Army had carried out a military operation code named ‘Operation Egwu Eke (Python Dance) II’ to quell what it described as growing insecurity and insurrection by pro-Biafra agitators, especially the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the zone.
After the operation, gory images of military personnel maltreating young men and women from the zone flooded both social and mainstream media, prompting public outcry and international condemnation. South East Gover- nors also waded in and appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to call off the operation.
But speaking during the monthly lecture series, Centre for Memories, tagged Nkata Umu Ibe, at Enugu Sports Club, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Nnia Nwodo said that Ohanaeze Ndigbo had on two occasions made presentations and demands from the military to investigate and prosecute erring personnel that violated the international rules of military engagement during the operation.
He said that based on local and international reports, including that of Amnesty International that investigated and put the casualty figure to over 150 youth extra judicially murdered by Nigerian soldiers, Ohanaeze had thought that the Nigerian Army would have taken action long ago based on the assurances it gave the body during the two meetings they had.
“After that military op eration, Ohanaeze went to the leadership of the Nigerian military and showed the army the international rules of military engagement which that operation violated.
They promised to investigate and court martial those that were involved, but on two occasions, Ohanaeze had reminded them and they kept promising that those involved would be court marshalled.
“But till date nothing has been done and the officers and men who carried out the heinous act are still going about their business… At the moment Ohanaeze is considering going to court to get redress,” he said. Nwodo, while lamenting the killings in the country by herdsmen and other militia, said there was never a time in the history of Nigeria when sanctity of human life was not regarded by the government in power as now.
“There is ominous sign and a darkening cloud that if not properly handled, will herald a disastrous rain. Our armed forces have been expropriated and manipulated by ethno-religious group,” he lamented.
The Ohanaeze President General said that Ndigbo was ready for restructuring, noting that the economic and political committee set up by the group and headed by former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo had developed a template which will form Igbo position for restructuring. He said Ohanaeze has been meeting with other regional pro-structuring groups like Afenifere, PANDEF and Middle-Belt Forum organising town hall meetings with the purpose of forming a common front for a restructured Nigeria.
Earlier, the guest lecturer, Dr. Okey Okechukwu, in his lecture entitled, “Eji Ndu Eme Gini?: Foundations of an Igbo Rebirth”, called on Ohanaeze Ndigbo to unite all the pro-Igbo organisations that are speaking on the welfare of Ndigbo for the purpose of having a common front on issues concerning Ndigbo as a people.
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