One of the community Ieaders of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) identified as Mr. Victor Ogbonna has been reportedly killed by gunmen believed to be of Nigerian army.
According to an eye witness who simply identifies himself as Samuel, he said the the unfortunate incident occured on January 8, 2018. In his account, “the armed men he recognised as men invaded Abala Umuotu village, Obingwa local government of Abia State, shooting sporadically, thereby causing pandemonium as the locales scampered for safety.
“As we all ran into the bush for cover, the operation lasted for 3 hours. When we finally returned, we were told the military men tied Elder Victor Ogbonna, dumped him in the bucket of the Operational vehicle and drove away.
“Notable leaders of our community, including clerics went for Ogbonna’s release the next day at Ovim Military base but were ordered to disperse or face the wrath of the officers. They resorted to visiting the nearest police station, but were told, there was no Ogbonna in their custody.
It was after the final visit to Aba Central Police Station and were unable to locate his whereabout that it dawned on them, something untoward must have happened to Ogbonna.
When our reporter vsited the community on January 20, 2018, the family members for fear of unknown had deserted their home. With the help of one of the villagers, who preferred anonymity, our reporter was able to speak to a member of the family, Mr. Uzoma Ogbonna on the telephone.
In his testimony, Uzoma Ogbonna who said he was speaking from the hiding revealed that his younger cousin had been killed by the military personnel who had been ordered by Muhammadu Buhari led administration to shoot the group (IPOB) at sight.
He insisted being a member of IPOB was not a crime and that agitation for self determination was not a subversive act. “My cousin is a vocal member of IPOB, and I, too. We hold a leadership position in IPOB. That was why I had to go into hiding.
For Uzoma, he vowed not to shy away from joining other like minds to co tinue their campaign to let the world know what is happening to Ndigbo.
Revealing a chilling information, “my cousin, from information I gathered by our intelligence, was clubbed to death. They have refused to hand over his corpse, at least for us to give him a befitting burial. He was never given the opportunity fair fair hearing”, he sobbed.
While the Igbo ethic group in Nigeria has remained transparently the most marginalised and most oppressed, still they face differing brutal and genocidal treatment by the successive government in Nigeria.
Indigenous People of Biafra led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is an offshoot of decades of marginalization of the Igbo after the civil war, thereby eliciting such a platform, which seeks self determination of the Igbo people.
Recall that on September 14, 2017, the Nigerian military invaded Nnamdi Kanu’s Afara-Umuahia home, shooting sporadically. It was reportedly that after that invasion, the leader of the group failed to appear in court on Septembwr 16, 2017, raising concern for his safety.
The Federal Government had also declared a military operation with the code name: “Operation Python Dance”, an operation that instilled fear into the people of South East. … And they were wholly right as the killings in the region was monumental, even as armless protesting IPOB Membership were shot at sight.
According to reports, families have declared members of their families missing.
When this reporter reached out to the Police Public Relations officer, DSP Geoffery Ogbonna, he simply declined comment, but rather advised for a callback. Subsequent efforts proved abortive.
Meanwhile, as at press time, the corpse of late Ogbonna has not been returned to the family.
