By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has challenged the Federal Government and its security agencies, especially the Army, Navy, DSS, and Police to show evidence of violence or crime committed by IPOB  members that justified the gruesome and unwarranted killings of its members and non-members who had shown them solidarity by coming out to watch, each time they were marching on the streets.

FILE: Scene of Onitsha protest

The group also condemned the delay by the Federal Government and the Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano in setting up a panel of inquiries into the circumstances that led to the alleged brutal murder of its members and non- members numbering over 50 when they were praying in the premises of St. Edmond Catholic Church, Nkpor Agu, in Idemili North Local Government area of Anambra State.

In a statement by IPOB National Coordinator, Mr. Chidiebere Onwudiwe and Media and Publicity Officer, Mr. Emma Powerful respectively, the group said that its members and non-members were  killed and lots of lies were placed on their heads by their killers to justify their cowardly act and therefore, warned that it would no more tolerate a situation where soldiers will open fire on unarmed civilians in the name of fighting IPOB unarmed members.

IPOB said the May 30, 2016 gruesome murder of its  members and non-members, who were watching on the streets of Nkpor  would be regretted by the soldiers who did the dastardly act.

“It is unacceptable to us for any government and security agents to prevent us from remembering and celebrating our heroes, who were killed in genocidal civil war by the same people preventing us from expressing ourselves.

“We must continue to remember and celebrate Biafrans and those killed by the Nigerian Navy, Army, Police and other security agents during the previous peaceful protests and rallies in the state including the recently murdered victims in the church in Nkpor.