*Igbo to kinsmen in the north: Relocate wives, children to south-east
By Tony Edike , AbdulSalam Muhammed & Ndahi Marama
No fewer than 13 people were at the weekend killed in the latest
confrontation between the security forces and members of the Boko Haram
sect.
The scenes of confrontation were Kano, the capital of Kano State,
where 186 people were killed when the sect struck, penultimate Friday,
and Maiduguri, Borno State capital.
At the end of the fresh Kano clash, on Friday, one police officer lay dead.
11 Boko Haram operatives were killed in the Maiduguri incident, yesterday.
Earlier yesterday, the sect operatives were credited with the killing
of the youth leader of Borno State chapter of the ruling All Nigeria
Peoples Party (ANPP) in the state capital.
The Boko Haram/security forces confrontation took place just as a
section of Igbo leaders rose from a meeting in Enugu asking their
kinsmen resident in the north to relocate their wives and children back
to the south-east.
The Kano incident occurred at Mandawari Police Division located about
900 meters to the palace of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero
EXCHANGE OF FIRE
According to the state commissioner of police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, the
gunmen arrived in two cars – a Peugeot and Volkswagen Golf – and
motorcycle after which they opened fire on the police station.
In the ensuing exchange of fire from policemen, Idris, who spoke to
journalists, yesterday, stated that one of his officers was killed.
The gunmen escaped.
The police commissioner revealed that the police recovered from the
scene of the clash one AK 47 rifle and AND 3 magazine abandoned by the
invaders.
He stated that the scene was littered with blood, an indication that the attackers escaped with bullet wounds.
The late evening shootout triggered pandemonium in the densely populated
area of Kano metropolis as sporadic gunshots rented the air following
the arrival of the military.
SULTAN VISITS
The shootout coincided with the visit of the Sultan of Sokoto who came
to commiserate with the Emir of Kano over the penultimate Friday
killings.
11 INSURGENTS DEAD
11 suspected Boko Haram members were, in the yesterday incident,
killed after soldiers from the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) clashed
with them in two wards of Maiduguri.
One member of the sect was arrested during the clash which reportedly lasted 15 minutes.
The arrested member, with injuries, according to security sources,
was taken to the University of Maidiguri Teaching Hospital for
treatment.
Before the clash, three gunmen suspected to belong to the Boko Haram
sect, attacked the Borno ANPP youth leader, Alhaji Atake, 32, near
Mai-Deribe mosque in Bulunkutu ward of Maiduguri.
The gunmen shot him in the head and arm, killing him instantly.
‘TO THY TENTS OH IGBO’
Yesterday’s decision of some Igbo leaders to ask their kinsmen resident
in the worth to relocate home their wives and children came against the
backdrop of continued bombing by Boko Haram of public institutions
including churches and homes in the north, which has claimed several
lives and property of Ndigbo living in the affected areas.
Briefing newsmen shortly after the meeting held at the Enugu
residence of the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu , leader of the
Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB,
Chief Ralph Uwazurike, and the former President General of apex Igbo
socio-cultural organization, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, retired Justice
Ezebuilo Ozobu, said the call became necessary since the situation is
getting worse.
“We can no longer keep quiet or fold our arms watching our brothers
and sisters being slaughtered by members of the Boko Haram on daily
basis in the North and buried in mass grave,” the Igbo leaders declared.
They stated that the number of innocent Igbos that are killed by the Islamic sect are under reported by the media.
According to Uwazurike, the leaders took a critical review of the
unfortunate happenings in the North before taking their decision, and
advised that such returnees who do not have places to stay to go to any
of the refuges or resettlement centers already provided in parts of
South East zone such as the one in Okwe, Okigwe in Imo state.
He also appealed to the international community, religious
organizations, and wealthy individuals in Igbo land to come to the
assistance of such displaced “fellow brothers and sisters” whom he said,
“may be facing untold hardship upon their return back home”.
He further explained that a committee had already been put in place
to discuss the ugly development with president Goodluck Jonathan .
He assured the returnees that more resettlement camps would be set up
in various parts of Igbo land, advising the men folk and husbands to go
back to their various locations in the North to man their businesses
and always be at alert.
As at the time of filing this report yesterday, Igbo elders,
politicians and religious leaders were holding another meeting at Nike
Lake Resort, Enugu with Governors of South East geo-political zone under
the headship of Peter Obi of Anambra State over the insecurity
situation in the North especially as it affects the Igbos residing in
that part of the nation.
Their communique was being awaited at press time.
Source: Vanguard news
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