Place Gov. Umahi, Simon Ekpa on Terrorism Watch List – Ohanaeze Youth to Buhari

The Apex Socio-cultural youth organization of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has slammed one Mr. Simon Ekpa, a self exclaimed disciple of Nnamdi Kanu and other distractors who, according to them, are threatened by the democratic cum ballot revolution of Labour Party and her presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.

The Council also implored the APC led administration of President Mohammadu Buhari to place Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. David Umahi and Ekpa on terrorism watch list, citing some instances of involvement in the act as alleged.

Addressing journalist on Wednesday 15th June 2022 at Nicon Luxury Hotel Abuja, the National President of Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYO), Comrd. Igboayaka O. Igboayaka described as a mere political propaganda, the idea of linking the former Executive Governor of Anambra State to Ezu River police killing.

According to Comrade Igboayaka, “it must be placed on irrefutable record that Intersociety- and Anambra CLO to an extent, was the only human rights group that forensically investigated the Ezu River Police- SARS killings and followed up and defended same up to the office of the then DIG, Force Criminal Investigations, now retired DIG Peter Gana in April 2013.

Narrating the ugly incident, the youth leader lamented that, “It is truism that the killings were solely perpetrated by Police SARS under retired CSP James Nwafor and then CP Bala. The victims were detainees arrested and detained at Awkuzu, Nneni and Nnewi SARS detention facilities and among the slain victims were nine members of MASSOB and others numbering about thirty, accused of perpetrating violent crimes.

He revealed that among the victims of the vicious killing by the Security operatives were fifteen slain detainees who were allegedly surreptitiously carted from Nnewi SARS detention facility, in Nnewi, Anambra State.

He regretted that the Ezu River Police-SARS killings were one among the numerous crimes stealthily perpetrated by the SARS department of what took place between the year 2004 and 2013.

Comrade Igboayaka wailed that the remains of their victims were indiscriminately disposed of, at some designated spots like Omambala River, Awada and Onitsha cemeteries as well as Abba Forests by Onitsha-Awka Expressway, asides other undisclosed areas.

In his words: “About fifteen of the slain detainees were bundled from Nnewi SARS dungeon while others including nine MASSOB members were from Awkuzu and Nneni SARS detention facilities. It must also be pointed out that the Ezu River Police SARS killings were just one of such secret Police-SARS killings that took place between 2004 and 2013. The secret Police-SARS killings and other unlawful killings by Police had continued from then till date which led to the national EndSars protest that sparked fire in August/September, 2020.

“That is to say that those secret killings by Police SARS were not only those of the Ezu River discovered because of the unhidden location of the crime scene, but also included others dumped at Omambala River and Awada and Onitsha cemeteries as well as Abba Forests by Onitsha-Awka Expressway, etc.

“It is to our utmost dismay, that those who held Nigeria down with economic strangulation, incompetency, league of political quagmire, political profiteers, gangs of primitive looters have hired or paid agents who also have formed the habit of resurrecting, the Ezu River Police SARS killings following the nearness of 2023 Presidential Poll, using the social media as a possible tool.

He asserted that the falsified claims and unwarranted explosion of Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. David Umahi and Simon Ekpa against Mr. Peter Obi were clear indications that the former work in connivance with each other.

“It’s truism that the outburst of Governor David Umahi on 13 June, 2022 at Ebonyi against the candidature of Mr. Peter Obi and false claims of one Simon Ekpa liking Mr. Peter Obi to Ezu SARS police killing is a clear indication that Simon Ekpa and Gov. David Umahi are working together.

In addition, Igboayaka recalled that the Director of Media and Publicity of the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB), Comrd. Emma Powerful has severally issued official statements, dissociating the freedom fighting outfit IPOB from the “illicit” activities of Mr. Simon Ekpa, stating emphatically that “he is not a member of IPOB but a miscreant recruited by Gov. David Umahi to train militias to do his dirty jobs.

“Gov. David Umahi has not cleared the air as regards the allegations levelled against him, hence the funding of terrorism and killings in Imo State and Anambra State through Simon Ekpa who he is sponsoring to discredit IPOB.

“We’re glad that the constitutional immunity protection to Gov. David Umahi will expire on 29th May 2023. I, therefore, urge the Nigeria government to place Gov. David Umahi on “Terrorism Watch List” as one of the persons Sponsoring Terrorism in Southeast.”