Urhobo union says poor leadership is to blame for Igbo neglect as nine die in Onitsha

URHOBO Progressive Union (Upu) has warned Biafran agitators that they are barking up the wrong tree by attacking the federal government over the poor state of infrastructure in the southeast advising that they hold Igbo leaders responsible for their plight.

 

Over the last month, there have been protests up and down Igboland agitating for the creation of the defunct republic of Biafra. Yesterday alone, about none civilians and two policemen died in bloody clashes in Onitsha as demonstrators and security men confronted each other during a march.

 

Upu publicity secretary Alhaji Mumakai Unagha, has urged members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (Massob) to blame their leaders for the allege neglect of the southeastern part of Nigeria. Speaking while addressing a cross session of Ohaneze Ndigbo youths from various parts of Delta State, Alhaji Unagha added that the problems of the geo-political zone were caused by bad leadership.

 

He charged Ipob and Massob to hold their leaders accountable rather than blaming other regions for being responsible for their socio-political and economic disadvantage.  According to Alhaji Unagha, the southeast leaders have every opportunity to address the backwardness of the zone but because of their selfishness, they sacrificed the interest of the people on the altar of greed.

 

While appealing to the protesters to allow the federal government handle the development of all regions of the country, Alhaji Unuagha described the protest as a wasteful venture sponsored to distract the Muhammadu Buhari administration. At least 18 people were injured in Onitsha yesterday as the pro-Biafra protests clashed with the Joint Military Task Force (JTF).

 

Irked by the stubborn disposition of the pro-Biafra agitators, who blocked the Niger Bridge and refused to give way to motorists, the JTF comprising army, navy, police and Civil Defence troops, opened fire on protesters. Five people were killed at Niger bridgehead while three were killed at Obodoukwu Road.

 

Protesters had vowed to continue their blockage of the bridge for three days until detained Radio Biafra director Nnamdi Kanu is released. Miscreants, on hearing that some people had been shot dead by the JTF, started another protest, marching to the Central mosque near Onitsha Main Market and set it ablaze.

 

A Hilux pick-up van with a federal government number plate was also burnt when the JTF held motorists and commuters hostage at Upper Iweka with sporadic shootings that had never been witnessed before in Onitsha.  However, the Anambra State Police Command said, yesterday, that despite losing two of its men it never retaliated.