An Igbo group, Igbo for a Progressive and United Nationhood, has called for an end to constant sit-at-home orders issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the southeast, noting that it is unproductive.
The group also condemned the actions of hoodlums, who hide under the umbrella of IPOB to perpetrate their evil activities.
The group also condemned in totality the incessant killings in Nigeria, especially the recent murder of a student, Deborah Yakubu, in Sokoto state.
In a press statement on Sunday, the National President of IPAN, Lawrence Onuzulike, pointed out that though IPOB leaders have canceled the Monday sit-at-home, some self-acclaimed members of the group are leveraging the situation to commit crime and criminality.
Onuzulike criticised Igbo presidential aspirants for not speaking up against the hoodlums causing troubles in the region while hiding under the IPOB agitations.
He also called on the relevant agencies including the Federal Government to act fast on the murder of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State.
He said, “Our leaders should act fast on the Deborah’s murder. Yes, the President on his Facebook page has condemned the act, but we want those people to be brought to book.
“On the side of the IPOB, they have repeatedly denied being part of the sit-at-home and other disturbances in the south-east, so who are the perpetrators?
“From the trending videos of the slain military couple, it was clear that the killers were Igbo people. Who sent them? Why are the tortured and mutilated bodies of innocent Igbo men and women littering all over the South-east not disturbing our people?
“Where are the Igbo leaders, the governors, the Police and even the ESN which was formed to protect the lives and properties of Ndigbo?
“Why are Igbo presidential aspirants going about their campaigns as if nothing is happening in their homes? Is there something all these people know that we at IPAN don’t know?”
“This is the time for Ndigbo to come together and solve issues trying to destroy Igboland. This is the time for the leaders to gather their agitating children and dialogue. This is the time to bring peace to our place.
“We are tired of the killings. Our people are living in fear while people in other regions are freely going about their businesses. For how long are we going to live like this?”