Not less than five people were reportedly killed in Aba on Friday as security agencies confronted protesters suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB) in Aba, Abia State.
IPoB members, who adorned white clothing had embarked on street protest over the continued detention of their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu despite the court order for his release
The protest which took off from East Street and Ngwa road axis through the Azikiwe road and Ama Ogbonna was peaceful until the combined team of security agents comprising soldiers and policemen allegedly blocked them as they marched from Ama Ogbonna junction to Osusu road.
The IPoB members allegedly defied the security order to disperse and started chanting;” Obey Court Order, Release Our Leader, Respect Your Own Court, The Court Has Freed Our Leader FG Why Holding Him”.
“There is a shooting of unarmed and peaceful protesting IPOB members in Aba by Nigerian security operatives”, a source said.
Another source disclosed that the protest started from Assa Road through Azikiwe Road, and “on getting to Amaogbonna, soldiers opened fire”.
But efforts to reach the Army, through its spokesman, and the Police Public Relations Officer, Geoffrey Ogbonna, for comments were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders condemned what it called “the lawless killings of five innocent Igbo in Aba”.
In a press statement signed by its President General, Goodluck Ibem, the group called for the immediate arrest, sack, and prosecution of those involved.
The statement read in part, “We received with rude shock the barbaric killing of armless Igbo who were peacefully protesting and demanding for the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, in Aba, Abia State.
“This is wickedness, barbaric, and lawlessness of the highest order. It is only the court of law that has the constitutional powers to give an order for the execution of any offender”.
