Kanu’s home under siege, as S’East senators decry military invasion of region

Incoming reports say soldiers of the Nigerian army, are parading the area around the home of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

A video posted on social media showed an armoured tanker close to the house, with members of IPOB blocking the road leading to Kanu’s house.

In another posts hundreds of people bearing the Biafra flag are seen on several articulated vehicles said to be heading to Kanu’s home in Umuahia, Abia State.

The soldiers who claimed to have seen someone taking photos of the happenings reportedly invaded the nearby office of the Abia State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Aba Road, Umuahia destroying computers and other mobile gadgets.

The Tuesday incident is coming barley 48 hours after Nigeria Army denied attacking Kanu’s home on Sunday, an incident in which three people were purportedly killed and many others wounded.

NUJ council chairman, Mr. John Emejor said that a national officer of the union, Ezeogo Bonny Okoro, was slapped by one of the soldiers.

“Our press centre was invaded by soldiers, two Journalists lost their IPads and phones, while a national leader in the office was attacked.

Read also: OHANAEZE: Attack on Kanu show of military brigandage, ploy to silence Ndigbo

“Our stand is that those involved in this attack on innocent journalists should be fished out and punished in line with the constitution of the country,” he said.

The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 14 Brigade, Major Oyegoke Gbadamosi who confirmed the incident, said that he had instructed the NUJ chairman to send photographs of the damaged office to him.

Meanwhile, the South East Senate Caucus on Tuesday, condemned the ongoing military show of force in the Southeastern states, particularly in the remote villages around Umuahia the Abia State capital.

In a statement released by its chairman, Enyinnaya Abaribe, the lawmaker condemned the alleged military incursions into the country home of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr Nnamdi Kanu, describing such action as willful personalisation of the operation and deliberate abuse of the people’s fundamental rights.

He said the caucus is sad that the military chose a time when the lawmakers from the geopolitical zone had engaged the IPOB leadership and even extracted firm commitment from them that its agitation will be strictly non-violent and in conformity with international best practices.

He said in the statement: “We had hoped that our ongoing engagement with the group be given a chance, and here we are, with a hurried military action deep into a highly populated area with high propensity for casualty, which occurrence would rather escalate the already tense situation.

“It is more worrisome that the Military’s operation ‘python dance 2’ restricted to the South East in a peace time, has no doubt fouled the environment and sent strong signal that the region is under siege, which should not be so in a democracy.

“We therefore urge extreme caution, and advise the Military to de-escalate the situation and choose the best operational modus that will not only guaranty the safety of Nigerians, but also enhance national unity.

“Nigeria is not at war, people are only exercising their constitutional and universally guaranteed rights. So far they are carrying on in a manner that have never given room to violence which could warrant a wholesale military expedition.”

By Ebere Ndukwu and Ehisuan Odia….