Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has condemned
the declaration
of Nnamdi Kanu and his group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)as
terrorists.
“How can anyone describe an unarmed group of people as
terrorists. As far as I am aware, Nnamdi Kanu and members of his IPOB have
never killed anyone and neither have they been carrying arms.
“Theirs is a peaceful non-violent struggle in pursuit of a
legitimate aspiration and objective.
“Violence and arms have no place in that struggle and in my
view the military is simply trying to create an atmosphere of terror, fear and
intimidation in order to justify their actions in the east and a general
clampdown on those they perceive as enemies of the state.
“It really is a pity that it has come to this and once
again, I call for restraint on all sides. This is a democracy and not a
military dictatorship,” he told DAILY POST.
A statement he signed by the military gave reasons for the decision.
It said “after due professional analysis and recent
developments, it has become expedient, to notify the general public that; the
claim by IPOB actors that the organization is non violent is not true.
“Hence, the need to bring to public awareness the true and
current state of IPOB.
“In this regard, some of their actions, clandestinely and actively, that has
been terrorising the general public among others include;
“The formation of a Biafra Secret Service; Claimed formation
of Biafra National Guard; Unauthorised blocking of public access roads;
Extortion of money from innocent civilians at illegal road blocks.
“Militant possession and use of weapons (stones, molotov
cocktails, machetes and broken bottles among others) on a military patrol on 10
September 2017.
“Physical confrontation of troops by Nnamdi Kanu and other
IPOB actors at a check point on 11 September 2017 and also attempts to snatch
their rifles.
“Attack by IPOB members, on a military check point on 12 September 2017, at Isialangwa, where one IPOB actor attempted to snatch a female soldier’s rifle.”
By Wale Odunsi
