From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The umbrella Igbo organisation in Spain, Igbo General Assembly (IGA), has expressed worry over the insecurity ravaging the South East region, and called on President Bola Tinubu’s to intervene.
In a release signed by Ozo Kingsley Ndibe, President General and Hon. E.C Onugha, Secretary, the body noted with concern that the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu is unhelpful to the region economically and security wise, and therefore, called for his immediately release.
While lamenting the economic challenges insecurity in the zone had brought on the people, the body urged the president to save the region from economic collapse.
“Facts show that since the security situation in south eastern Nigeria deteriorated, Diaspora investment which was the bedrock of the region’s economy has drastically reduced, as people hardly come home to invest and create jobs for unemployed youths.”
IGA which said the insecurity in the South East had been an issue of great concern to all Igbo both at home and abroad regretted that the previous administration could not solve the problem, adding that the release of Kanu would help to end the economic strangulation as well as insecurity in the region.
The assembly said it had full confidence and trust that President Tinubu would bring a lasting solution to the insecurity in the region and urged him to use his good offices to salvage the situation.
“There have been incessant cases of kidnappings, killings, and regular bloodletting in the South East; our mothers can no longer go to the farm, our fathers cannot go out to do their businesses.
“Movement has been restricted in this region every Monday; this is adversely affecting economic activities in this region.
“As stakeholders in the Igbo General Assembly, we are requesting the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“It is a denial of justice not to stretch out a helping hand to Kanu at this time because he has been detained for too long after being granted bail by a reputable court of law in Nigeria,” IGA said.