Ohanaeze youths, HURIWA condemn Enugu killings, ask security agents to arrest masterminds

APGA guber aspirant canvasses scrapping of SIECs

Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide (OYC) has condemned killings by unknown gunmen in Enugu State and other parts of the South East region.

This followed the killing of no fewer than five persons by gunmen, who also injured several others as residents filed out to exercise their civic responsibility during Wednesday’s council election in Enugu.

In a statement issued, yesterday, by the President-General of OYC, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, the group condemned the killings at voting centres, describing the attack as “one too many.”

He wondered why the perpetrators would descend on hapless Nigerians, who came out to exercise their franchise, adding: “We are in deep pains over the precious lives wasted again in the hands of some strange persons operating as unknown gunmen.

“Within the past few weeks, several persons, including security operatives have also paid the supreme price. This is totally condemnable and unacceptable.

“The Igbo are known to be peaceful people. They are known to be respecters of the sanctity of blood. This is why we are still at a loss on the motive and those behind the carnage.”

Okwu, who also commiserated with victims of the attack on Abia Cattle Market, urged security agencies to investigate the incident before arriving at a conclusion, insisting that the victims be adequately compensated.
ALSO, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) condemned the killings and violence that marred the Enugu council elections on Wednesday.

In a statement issued, yesterday in Abuja, by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, it urged security agents to trail the hoodlums, who unleashed terror on Enugu South and Agbani councils, killed five persons, injured others and burnt vehicles during attacks on two polling units.

“One Cyprian Nwobodo said about five persons were killed, while some people escaped with machete cuts and bullet wounds. They also burnt two vehicles belonging to community members who came to vote. I overheard the gunmen shouting that they had warned that there should no longer be elections in any part of the South East.”

“Killing of voters at polling units is barbaric, criminal, severely punishable under the law and pose tall threats to the survival of democracy. No non-state actor or state actor should be allowed to pull down the democracy,” the statement reads.

MEANWHILE, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prince Jeff Nnamani, has urged the National Assembly to scrap State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs).

Nnamani maintained that only an amendment of the electoral laws to enable the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct elections into the 774 councils of the country could guarantee the election of credible representatives at the grassroots level.