Group warns Igbos, Niger Deltans over need for self-defense

Obinwannem News Group warns Igbos, Niger Deltans over need for self-defense

Group warns Igbos, Niger Deltans over need for self-defense

Following the wanton killings and destruction of properties ravaging the country, an Igbo group, Global Igbo Alliance Incorporated (GIA) has called out to Ndi Igbo and other tribes within the old eastern region to defend themselves, people and their land against the continuous infiltration by large groups of terrorists, and armed herdsmen from Northern Nigeria into the East.

In a statement signed by the President of the Global Igbo Alliance, Dr. Christian Duru and the Secretary-General, Barrister Nnamdi Elekwachi, the group noted that self-defense is a fundamental individual and group human right enshrined in international law and in the customary laws of the Igbo.

GIA also lamented the cruel activities perpetrated by these armed groups which include rape, wanton destruction of lives and property, forceful occupation of bushlands, forests and farmlands across every state in the said regions among others.

Appealing to Igbos worldwide, GIA asks Igbos to strengthen and support these customary civil defense forces with the necessary logistics required to rid Igboland permanently of the Fulani Terrorists and armed Herdsmen menace.

GIA further, recommends and supports all Igbo in Diaspora to continue to organize and come together “Umunna by Umunna,” “kindred by kindred,” “village by village,” “town by town,” “community by community,” and “clan by clan,” and to keep raising funds in their respective “Umunna” to immediately activate or strengthen their customary civil defense age-grades into action.

“Research conducted by International Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law, Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria (Intersociety) published on 4 June 2020, reveal that across the entire South East and Niger Delta Regions of Nigeria, more than 400 communities and villages in Igboland have become forcefully occupied by Fulani Terrorists and armed Herdsmen.

“Further research published by Intersociety on 12 June 2020, asserts that between January and June 2020 alone, Fulani terrorists and Fulani armed herdsmen murdered over 812 Christians across Igbo land and other Christian communities in Nigeria. Many of those attacked or murdered in their farms and in their homes are Igbos and indigenes of riverine neighboring nations.

“We have observed with utter shock and dismay the silence and inaction of Nigeria security services, and all other legislative apparatus of the central government of Nigeria in containing the prospects of another calculated genocide against the Igbos and other neighboring Christian communities in Nigeria.

“GIA is equally horrified by the lack of cohesion among South-East Governors, Governors of Delta and Rivers States and others to establish and activate an appropriate self-defense-civil defense security network to protect the lives, properties and lands of their citizens against Fulani Terrorists and armed Herdsmen.

“GIA, therefore, called on every Igbo kindred, village, Town and Clan to organize “Umunna by Umunna” and activate the Igbo customary age-grade defense system in each of their “Umunna,” investigate the identity and origin of all suspicious individuals residing in their communities, search all bushes, forests and farms in their communities and expel all/anyone or group residing, hiding in or occupying therein.

“Umunna should act simultaneously, and in collaboration with others across the entire Igboland, to enforce the Igbo customary law prohibiting open grazing in Igboland by evicting all animals, including herds of cattle and their herders that are found roaming free in any bushland, forest, farm or road in their communities throughout Igboland.

“Historically, Igbo customary Defence Age-grades have always been in Igbo customs and traditions. It is lawful and legitimate in customary law and was successfully deployed to defend Igboland and its communities against slave traders and the British Colonial Army before and during British rule; and does not require the consent, legislative approval, or funding by any Igbo Governor to become active.

Nwada Ugochinyere Onyechere reporting, obinwannem News

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