Ohanaeze youths fault Soludo, demand Kanu’s release

• Consider political solution for S’East security crisis, ex-DSS director tells President
• HURIWA seeks return of Bakassi boys in Anambra

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide (OYC) has criticised Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State over his recent remarks that the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, would not end insecurity in the South-East.

OYC urged President Bola Tinubu to disregard the governor’s comment which, according to the youth body, is not a reflection of the truth and general belief of Ndigbo.

The youth organisation further urged the President to fulfil his campaign promise and the pact his son, Seyi, had with Kanu’s family to free the IPOB leader.

OYC, in a statement by its National President, Okwu Nnabuike, also called on Seyi to prevail on his father to keep his word.

Recall that Kanu’s brother, Emmanuel Kanu, recently disclosed that the family had an agreement with Seyi before the 2023 polls to prevail on IPOB not to boycott the election, with a promise that his father, if elected President, would release Kanu.

According to Kanu’s brother, Tinubu was aware of the pact and had authorised his son to get the deal.

OYC, therefore, urged the President to honour his words, arguing that Kanu’s release will bring enduring peace to the South-East.

MEANWHILE, a former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mike Ejiofor, yesterday, urged President Bola Tinubu to unconditionally release the IPOB leader.
Ejiofor urged Tinubu’s administration to consider a political solution to resolve the insecurity challenges across the South-East.

Speaking on Arise TV’s Morning Show, the former DSS Director called for the prioritisation of security challenges in Nigeria.

He lamented that the unknown gunmen killing innocent people in the region claim to be fighting for Kanu.

According to Ejiofor: “We should prioritise the issue of our security challenges. Some are political, while others require kinetic and non-kinetic approaches.

“For instance, we have achieved a lot in the North-East until recently when we started having some isolated cases.”

HOWEVER, worried by the upsurge of kidnapping and violent crimes in Anambra State, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for the return of the dreaded Bakassi Boys to tackle insecurity in the state.

Addressing a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, the National Coordinator of the group, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the call became necessary since the existing security measures in place, including the establishment of state-wide vigilantes, have proven insufficient to address the insecurity problem.

He noted that HURIWA is worried that Anambra State and South-East have become largely unstable and insecure as a result of armed terrorists in the region.

According to him, the state has been plagued with killings and human-threatening activities.

He said: “A few days back, a report filtered in that a female banker, identified as Ifeoma, has been murdered by suspected kidnappers in Anambra State after her family paid a ransom for her release.”

HURIWA stressed the need for the governments of the South-East of Nigeria to consider re-introducing the dreaded Bakassi Boys, train them, arm them, and provide strict regulations with adherence to the rule of law.