…NSCIA warns Muslims against retaliation
Over N50 million worth of valuables were allegedly destroyed by the pro-Biafra protesters at Onitsha, Anambra State.
The protesters, who stormed Best Aluminum Manufacturing Company limited at Anyika Street, Ozala Layout Awada, Onitsha, with various weapons during the protest allegedly carted away N12million cash, burnt two vehicles, destroyed six others, smashed building glasses, looted computers and generating sets.
Best Aluminum Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Pius Nweke said the hoodlums, numbering about 200, stormed the factory with intent of collecting arms from policemen on guard. When that failed, he said they stole and destroyed.
He said the protest by pro-Biafra agitators was hijacked by miscreants, adding that immediately “they forced themselves into the factory, they went straight to a new car parked within the premises, poured fuel and burnt it and also went ahead and burnt another bus, destroying six other vehicles.
Nweke alleged that the hoodlums also went to the cashier’s office and collected N12 million and also, made away with sets of computers and generating set as well as destroying glasses of the building, saying they equally injured two staff.
Meanwhile, normalcy has returned in Onitsha, following Wednesday’s orgy of violence. Security operatives were seen in every part of the city patrolling to ensure that law and order were maintained.
Police Area Commander in charge of Onitsha, Mr. Philip Ezekie, an Assistant Commissioner of Police told Daily Sun that the city was calm and that the Hausa community who ran for cover to various police stations to avoid attacks were safe.
He noted that some of them in Fegge were evacuated to Asaba for safety.
The pro-Biafra protesters on Wednesday took to streets to demand the release of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu director of Radio Biafra.
In a related development, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) under the leadership of the President-General, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, yesterday urged Muslims in the country to resist the temptation of retaliating Wednesday’s attacks on Muslims and the central mosque of Onitsha in Anambra State.
The position of the religious body on the Onitsha mayhem was made known at a press conference addressed by its Secretary- General, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede in Ilorin, Kwara State yesterday.
The NSCIA’s scribe urged Muslims to consider the perpetrators as criminals and not representatives of any ethnic or religious group.
“The NSCIA is fully aware of the development and is working round the clock to put the situation under control. Muslims are warned against the antics of those who seek to whip up religious sentiments to further their clandestine political motives. “Vengeance is for Allah and Muslims should exercise maximum restraint in these trying times.
“We call on Muslim brothers and sisters not to embark on reprisal attacks on Christians and their places of worship in any part of Nigeria. We are already engaged in discussions with various security and relevant government agencies to forestall further aggravation of the situation.”
….Conflicting figures trail death toll
By Funmilayo Harrison
Hours after protests demanding the release of Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu turned tragic, conflicting figures now trail the death toll.
On Wednesday, reports indicated how security agents fired at protesters on the Niger Bridge Head, ostensibly in a move to dislodge the agitators.
Some accounts say between nine and 13 people were killed in the course of protest, while the police say only one person, and a policeman died in the clash.
Other accounts alleged that the Joint Task Force (JTF) comprising the Army, Navy, Police and Civil Defence troops opened fire at protesting members of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), and Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) which killed about nine people and injured 18.
Traffic flow has, however, resumed after over 12 hours gridlock occasioned by the protest, which crippled business and vehicular movement in the South East.
Deaths in Onitsha: Hold IPOB, MASSOB faction responsible –Uwazuruike
From Dom Ekpunobi , Onitsha
National leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, absolved his group in the protests rocking the South East and South South geo-political zones.
He also denied the involvement of his group in the deaths of some protesters at Onitsha on Wednesday.
Uwazurike said the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Uchenna Madu-led MASSOB should be held responsible for the protests that caused the deaths of five people and destruction of property.
He accused Madu and his co-leaders of being sponsored by politicians to drag the image of MASSOB in the mud because they were expelled from MASSOB over anti-MASSOB activities.
Uwazuruike, who spoke through his personal assistant, Emmanuel Omenka, said “Uchenna was expelled from MASSOB in 2014 because of anti-MASSOB activity.
“When you don’t follow the organogram of MASSOB, we expel you. So, they were expelled for not following the organogram,” he posited.
Biafra: Obiano warns mischief-makers to keep off Anambra
From Dom Ekpunobi, Onitsha
Anambra Governor, Chief Willie Obiano has warned mischief makers to keep off the state.
Obiano issued the warning in a special broadcast. The governor said he was in constant touch with security personnel in the state, adding that “his government has been monitoring developments with regards to protests by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).
“As your governor and chief security officer of the state, I am compelled to act to avert any likely breakdown of law and order. In all situations, the preservation of human life comes first and I am determined to enforce that.
“Since the inception of my administration, we have made the security of lives and property our priority and we are not going to compromise on that. I, therefore, sincerely appeal to members of IPOB and MASSOB and other aggrieved groups and individuals to maintain the peace and resist any attempt by hoodlums to take advantage of the situation and destabilise any part of Anambra State.
“All mischief makers are hereby warned to keep off as we will not tolerate any breach of peace under any guise or pretext. You are seriously warned,” Obiano said in the broadcast.
The Sun.
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