I helped free Nnamdi Kanu, I forgive IPOB ‘for they know not what they do’, Ekweremadu speaks

Former Deputy Senate President, Ike Enweremadu, has confirmed a physical assault on him by members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) in Nuremberg, Germany.

The proscribed group had on Saturday shared a video on its Facebook page, Radio Biafra, showing its members attacking the senator who represents Enugu West.

Radio Biafra wrote, “Senator Ike Ekwere Mmadu escaped being lynched by frustrated IPOB family members in Germany. He was seriously questioned and accused of conspiring with Nigeria government in proscribing and killing of hundreds of unarmed IPOB family members in Nigeria.”

Enweremadu confirmed the attack in a statement by his Media Assistant, Uche Anichukwu, in Abuja, stating that he was safe.

He, however, condemned the attack and said he had immediately reported it to the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Yusuf Tuggar.

“I attended the Second Annual Cultural Festival and Convention organised by Ndi-Igbo Germany in Nurnberg today where I was billed to give a keynote address along with the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, who, however could not make it eventually,” he said.

“I was given a resounding welcome by Ndigbo in Germany and everything went smoothly until some men, who identified themselves as IPOB members stormed the venue and began to complain about the killings in the South East, stressing that there would be no Igbo event at the venue.

READ ALSO: ‘It’s un-Igbo’; Ohanaeze condemns attack on Ekweremadu in Germany by ‘IPOB miscreants’

“I tried to engage them but when they became unruly, I had to leave the venue. The organisers also invited the police and I was accompanied out of the venue.

“Much as I am disappointed in their conduct, especially as I am one of the persons, who have spoken up on justice for Ndigbo, the Python Dance, judicial killings in Igbo land and elsewhere both on the floor of the Senate and in my written and personal engagements with the Presidency and the media as well as rallied the South East Senate Caucus to secure Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s release with Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe taking him on bail to douse tension in the South East, I nevertheless do not hold this to heart against them, for they know not what they do.

“I have received thousands of solidarity calls and messages from well- meaning Ndigbo.

“I want to assure them that I am hale and hearty. I have also spoken with the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now