CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

There were strong indications of tension in the South Eastern part of the country following the alleged invasion of the home of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the leaders of the group were busy mobilizing their members for series of protests in some states in solidarity of Kanu believed to be under house arrest in his home tome, in Abia State. It was gathered that the governor of the state had declared three days curfew to forestall any breakdown of law and order in the state as soldiers reportedly surrounded Kanu’s home to arrest him.

Some of the states where their leaders were mobilizing their members included Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi, Enugu and Abia. There were reactions also in Rivers State as the Hausa community were said to have clashed with some Igbo people in the area.

Some of the members who confirmed the development said they wanted to do the mass protests to alert the international community that Kanu’s life was in danger for their prompt response to prevent the Federal government from arresting Kanu and probably killing him.

Some of the Igbo leaders who were worried about the development blamed Kanu for going too far in the agitation while some said he had not committed any offence to warrant such invasion to arrest him.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that trouble started when some members of the IPOB reportedly attacked soldiers which resulted in clash between the soldiers and IPOB members. Several people were wounded including some soldiers, IPOB and innocent victims.

The NUJ office was not spared as soldiers reportedly invaded the place and destroyed some properties after suspicion that some journalists were taking photographs of their activity from there. Barely 48 hours after the incident, the soldiers reportedly stormed and surrounded Kanu’s home and attempted to gain entrance to arrest him which some IPOB members resisted.

Meanwhile, there have been reactions on the development by the Igbo group, Ohaneze and southeast senators who have expressed concern and called for caution. As at the time of filing this report, the soldiers were still at Kanu’s home and military authority have not made any official reaction on the latest invasion of Kanu’s home.

However, it was gathered that the action of Kanu since he came out from detention seemed to be posing a serious threat on the internal security of the nation. P.M.EXPRESS gathered that Kanu created a security outfit and had threatened to break up Nigeria in order to achieve Biafra Republic.