The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has condemned the killing of a commercial motorcyclist, Okada man, in Abia State on Wednesday afternoon.
The slain motorcyclist, Mr Chimaobi Nwogu, who hails from Obingwa area of Abia State where the state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu also hails, was reportedly shot dead after he refused to offer a bribe of N100 to a military officer at a checkpoint.
IPOB, in a press release signed by its media and publicity secretary, Mr Emma Powerful, described the killing of Nwogu as a continuation of unprovoked attack and unnecessary killing of Biafrans by Fulani-dominated Nigerian Army throughout Biafraland.
It said the killing has been taken to another level recently and was unacceptable to the people.
Part of the release read, “This killing has taken another gruesome dimension since the emphatic rejection of Fulani Ruga settlements and National Life Stock Programs (NLSP) by Biafrans.
“Nigerian soldiers in their usual nonchalant way has killed another person, this time one Mr Chimaobi Nwogu a commercial motorcycle operator over his refusal to give a bribe of N100 (One Hundred Naira) to them at a checkpoint in Obingwa, Abia State.
“We wish to reitetate that this unnecessary killing is one too many and must have attending consequences. It must be reciprocated at the appropriate time.
“It is very pathetic that Nigerian Army would abandon their constitutional role of defending the borders of Nigeria from external aggression to descend into lowly criminality of extorting One Hundred Naira from motorists on countless checkpoints across Biafraland.”
The group lamented that it was not the first time fully-armed Nigeria soldiers would be chasing after and tormenting innocent motorcyclists and bus drivers including private road users who are going about their normal business, just for the sake of N100.
It said, “The saddest part is that these illegal extortion racket at check-points across Biafraland is non-existent in the north where these soldiers come from.”
IPOB warned the Nigerian government to redress the situation as such would no longer be tolerated by the people of the South-East zone.