By Uzair Adam Imam
The Nigerian Army has sworn blind to deal adequately with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on its unlawful sit-at-home order throughout the Southeat states.
It was gathered that Maj. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, the Chief of Army Staff, ordered troops to raid IPOB hideouts and stop them from unlawfully enforcing residents to remain indoors for two weeks.
The Daily Reality reports that the order came after Simon Ekpa, a Finland-based pro-Biafra agitator, announced that there would be a two-week sit-at-home in the South-East region from July 31.
Ekpa disclosed that the order was to demand the immediate and unconditional release of the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, as well as facilitate the freedom of Biafra nation, among others.
He also threw threat that anybody or group of people that refuse to comply with the the sit-at-home order would attract ‘heavy consequences’.
However, speaking with the journalists, the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, declared that such an announcement was unlawful and would not be condoned.
Onyema said, “The renewed threat by IPOB to compel the people in southeastern Nigeria to sit at home is not only appalling but a violation of the fundamental rights of southeastern Nigerians and, therefore, unlawful. This will never be condoned.
“The Chief of Army Staff has handed down clear directives to the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army operating in synergy with other security agencies to ensure robust patrols to dominate all flashpoints and emplace measures to ensure citizens are free to go about their legitimate businesses.
“Strangely, Simon Ekpa, a notorious terrorist and self-acclaimed leader of IPOB, is in Finland making a living for himself and his family, but ordering the people to shut down their means of livelihood by sitting at home,” he added.