Fayose condemns killing of pro-Biafra protesters

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has condemned Monday’s killing of pro-Biafra protesters in Delta State, saying it appeared that President Muhammadu Buhari was turning the people of the South East and South South to “politically endangered species”.

The Nigerian Army said its troops shot dead five people in self defence, but witnesses said at least 30 people, suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), were killed.

Mr. Fayose called on the international community to take note of the “wanton killings being perpetrated by the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government”.

In a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Gov. Fayose said there was no justification for killing people who were marking “Biafra Day in memory of the former leader of the defunct Biafra Republic, the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu”.

He said it was worrisome that Nigeria and its people had been more divided since the advent of Buhari’s government, adding that approach to civil unrests of any kind under the government was causing more security problems for the country.

The governor, who reiterated his avowed belief in the unity of Nigeria, said it was unspeakable for security men to have used life ammunition against the Igbo protesters and went on to justify the murder of innocent Nigerians just because their views were different from those of the President.

“To even justify the killing by claiming that the Igbo youths protest was orchestrated in order to mar the first anniversary of Buhari’s government is to say the least, wicked and animalistic,” the governor said.

He said it was worrisome that more than 150 Igbo youths had been killed by Nigerian security operatives under the directive Buhari’s government form August 30, 2015 till date, adding that “It appears that President Buhari has made up his mind to eliminate as many South East and South South people as possible and lovers of the corporate existence of Nigeria and its people should call the president to
order”.

“I am alarmed that Nigerians who were only on peaceful protest could be shot at and killed by security agents and after the senseless killing of innocent Nigerians, security agents could demonstrate their heartlessness by coming up with justifications for the criminal act.

“One is however not surprised because every evil perpetrated by the Buhari-led government against Nigerians, especially those the presidents appears to hate, have been justified by those who perpetrated them.

“We were in this country when over 1,000 Shiite Muslims were killed and buried overnight in Zaria, Kaduna State, and the murder was justified. We were also here when over 400 Agatus were killed in Benue State and the President said nothing.

“The Monday killing of over 30 Igbo youths is therefore condemnable. Its justification is barbaric, heartless, crude and must be condemned by all lovers of unity of Nigeria and its people.

“I therefore wish to express my sympathy to the people of the South Eastern part of Nigeria and I urge them to remain resolute in their agitation for a Nigeria in which all Nigerians are treated equally irrespective of their tribe and religion.”