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A group under the aegis of Concerned Igbo Citizens Council has called on the Federal Government to as a matter of necessity; approve the unconditional release of all pro-Biafra activists and other Nigerians incarcerated for self-determination agitations in fulfilment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s promised commitment to a free society.
The group made the call in a statement signed by its interim National Coordinator, and interim National Secretary, Comrade Ukachukwu Obioha and Mazi James Okorie respectively, and sent to The Eastern Updates on Thursday.
The Coalition of Civil Society Groups has commended the unconditional release of Sunday Igboho, a pro-Odua Republic agitator and Omoyele Sowore. Citing the importance of fairness, CICC urged the Nigerian government to extend the same gesture to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other Nigerians currently detained for similar activities.
CICC maintained that the continued detention of Kanu and hundreds of Igbo youths over Indigenous People of Biafra activities while their Yoruba counterparts have been granted reprieve by the present administration gives “an unsavory ethnic and sectional coloration” to Federal Government’s action.
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Additionally, the group urged the Department of State Services, the Police and the National Human Rights Commission, to as a matter of urgency, commence investigation and compilation of list of those killed, maimed and unlawfully incarcerated for self-determination agitations across board.
It said, “It has become most expedient and imperative to call on President Tinubu to extend the amnesty he granted to two of his kinsmen, Sunday Igboho and Omoyele Sowore to other Yoruba youths held for supporting the agitations of the duo.”
“It would amount to criminal injustice to continue to detain the supporters and fans of Igboho and Sowore since the principal actors have been absolved of any wrongdoing per se.
“We demand also for the unconditional release without any further delay, of Mazi Kanu and all Igbo and Eastern Nigerian youths currently detained for belonging to or supporting IPOB.
“We urge the DSS, Police and NHRC as well as other relevant government and non-governmental bodies to compile and publish comprehensive list of those killed, maimed and unlawfully incarcerated or displaced for identifying with self-determination agitations across the country.”
Insisting that it is out to mobilize Nigerians across ethnic lines to stand up and assert their rights to a free society, CICC called on Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Igbo governors and all others calling for the release of Kanu, not to forget his countless lieutenants being persecuted, in the quest for his release.
