Metuh says alleged attack on Kanu’s home by soldiers ‘provocative’

The former publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, has described as provocative, the alleged attack on the home of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu.

Military personnel were said to have attempted to force their way into the residential premises of Kanu but were resisted by members of IPOB. The situation reportedly led to the soldiers firing live ammunition on the group’s member allegedly killing three and injuring many others.

The army had however, in a statement signed by Major Oyegoke Gbadamosi, the Assistant Director Army Public Relations 14 Brigade Nigerian Army, denied the attack and killings.

“It was a group of suspected IPOB militants that blocked the road against troops of 145 Battalion while on show of force along FMC-Word Bank Road in Umuahia town, Abia State at about 6.00-6.30pm, Sunday,” the Nigerian Army claimed.

But Metuh said, “First, there is no such thing as ‘show of force’ in a peaceful part of our country. It is a provocative taunt and insult thrown at the face of the elected, appointed and anointed leaders as well as the people themselves.

“When you taunt and mock a people because you control instruments of brute force, yes, you can arrest, humiliate, handcuff, maim, imprison or even shoot and kill them at will, but then, you cannot kill the spirit of their struggle and resistance. Provocative and brute show of force does not hold the answers.

“Moreover, we are in a democracy and actions as these are at complete variance with the tenets and credentials of a democratic state. The security forces should not under any guise whatsoever be used or allow themselves to be seen as being used as political weapon on a people.”

Similarly, renowned constitutional lawyer and elder statesman, Professor Ben Nwabueze, has condemned the alleged Sunday attack by the Nigerian Army.

Read also: PYTHON DANCE: Tension as Army, Biafra agitators clash in Abia; 3 allegedly killed (video)

Reacting to the alleged invasion, Nwabueze said, “The Sunday’s reported bloody clash between soldiers and civilians in Umuahia, Abia State capital is indeed traumatic and completely unacceptable.

“I have read, severally, the press statement from the Nigeria Army and that of the Nigeria police in their attempts to rationalize the violence. Assuming, but not conceding that all they have said is true, there are still evidential wrongs against the people by the security team.

This is coming as the army recently announced new phase of Operation Python Dance in the South East region of the country.

Nwabueze said, “The report in this morning newspapers of the attack on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s Umuahia home by soldiers of the Nigerian Army during which some people were reportedly killed or injured is a matter of grave concern, because it occurred at a time the country is facing destabilising crisis and threats to its peaceful co-existence and at a time the South East governors are making valiant efforts to contain the danger of the repercussions of the crisis by interventions with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the IPOB.

“The situation in the country calls for great restraint on the part of all, and for the Federal Government to take firm steps to restrain any actions capable of escalating the crisis, such as the reported attack on the home of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s home in Umuahia.”

 

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