The Ohaneze Ndigbo has decried the deployment of Python Dance II
exercise to the South Eastern states by the Nigerian Army, describing it as a provocative
invasion of a quiet homestead as well as continued policy of intimidation by
the current government, reports ITRealms.
Reacting to the deployment by the Nigerian Army, Ohaneze
Ndigbo through its President General, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, noted that there
are crimes of monstrous proportions occurring in other parts of Nigeria, which
the Army refused to deploy troops to those regions.
ITRealms recalls
that on the 8th of September 2017, Major General D D Ahmadu, Chief Of Training
And Operations of the Nigerian Army announced an exercise called Operation
Python Dance II which he said was going to take place in the five South
Eastern States to address "rampancy of assassinations, attack on security
personnel, theft of weapons, violent agitations, armed banditry and kidnapping."
Ohaneze pointed out that operation Python Dance 1 has been
on for quite a while in the South East. Whilst Operation Python Dance 1 lasted
major roads, entries and exits of important cities in the South East had zigzag
check points supervised by members of the Nigerian Army.
“They turned out to be toll gates used in extorting money
under gun point from helpless motorists. Our people were shamelessly intimidated
and harassed at these check points. Operation Python Dance 1 procured no
arrests of criminals that were prosecuted for any of the criminal activities
that Operation Python Dance II is supposed to address.
“Instead it witnessed reckless and indiscriminate murder of
self-determination agitators in Asaba, Aba, Nkpor and Port Harcourt numbering
up to 191 by the estimates of Transparency International and shattered public
confidence of South Easterners in the Nigerian Army and Police,” he observed.
Ohaneze also observed that operation Python Dance II launched
for the five South Eastern states whose crime rates by Police statistics are
not the highest in the country, turned out to focus on a tiny suburban road
leading to the home of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB Leader.
A few nights ago, he said, that road was visited by a
combined team of Police and Military personnel with Armoured Personnel Carrier
(APC) and armed personnel. Video posts from IPOB and the Nigerian Army did not
indicate any act of disobedience before the invasion of this suburban
environment. Contradictory versions of the encounter in this location came from
both the Military/Police and IPOB . Sparodic shots were fired at innocent
civilians who had no firearms.
“Stones and bottles were pelted at the APC and military
personnel. Which of the attacks preceded the other is not clear, but one was
clearly disproportionate to the other and violated rules of military engagement
in situations of this nature,” he said.
Pointing out that crimes of monstrous proportions occurring
in other parts of Nigeria include ravaging killings by Fulani herdsmen in the
Middle Belt, Secret cult killings in Lagos and the South West, bunkering and
armed resistance in the Delta, wanton kidnappings and killing of military
personnel in Kaduna State and environs as well as Boko Haram insurgency in the
North East.
“The Nigerian Army has never embarked on Operation Python
Dance in any of the other five geopolitical zones on account of these
incidences. Innocent civilians living in these other parts of Nigeria have not
witnessed the type of invasion Umuahia witnessed a few nights ago,” Ohaneze
condemned.
“Ohaneze Ndigbo is left with no alternative than to conclude
that this is a containment policy aimed at the South East to intimidate our
people from freely expressing their anger and angst at their marginalization
and treatment as second class citizens. In a democracy the level of
disenchantment expressed by the people of the South East of Nigeria ought to
have provoked a serious dialogue between our people and the Federal Executive
and the Legislature. History teaches us that the continous use of force
to silence dissent and free speech will only accelerate the growth of dissent
and dissatisfaction. Fundamental Rights of freedom of expression are critical
for a successful democracy,” Nwodo said.
Ohaneze Ndigbo therefore call on the Federal Government to
call off this phoney Operation Python Dance II.
“Nigeria at this moment does not need such deliberate and
proactive escalation of tensions and crisis. There are more civilised and
established practices to resolve our democratic and security challenges,”
Ohaneze Ndigbo said.
Nweke Ozo Nweke/GEE
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