IN EHIME MBANO: IT’S BEEN SORROWS, TEARS AND BLOOD

Exclusive Report

In Ehime Mbano it’s Sorrows, Tears and Blood
Exclusive Report.

In the town of Umualumaku, Ehime Mbano in Imo State Southeast Nigeria, violence and terror have become a part of everyday life in the past few days because of the killing of Eight Military personnel by the notorious unknown gunmen.

But the people who are paying the price for the government’s heavy-handed response to the killing are not the ones responsible for the violence against the security personnel.

The victims are innocent civilians, and their only crime is living in a community that has become a target due to the activities of the unidentified gunmen.

“Umualumaku Ehime Mbano is a small town in the southeastern part of Nigeria, and it has long been a peaceful and relatively safe place to live.

But in recent months, violence has been on the rise, and it has been Sorrows, Tears and Blood as the community has become a target for attacks by unidentified gunmen followed by the reprisal attacks by the Nigerian military .

The government has always responded by sending in security forces, but their actions of unmitigated killings and wanton destruction of lives and properties have only made the situation worse.

What began as isolated incidents of violence has now escalated into a full-blown war with the attendant humanitarian crisis, with reports of mass arrests, disappearances, and extrajudicial killings.

The government’s response has been to impose a curfew and conduct sweeps of the town, but these actions have not stopped the violence. Instead, they have made life even more difficult for the people of Ehime Mbano, who are now living in fear and suffering from a lack of basic necessities like food and medicine.

It is important to understand that what is going on in Ehime Mbano and most of other towns and villages in the whole of Southeast region is the continuation of genocidal Biafran War, which lasted from 1967 to 1970 and resulted in the deaths of millions of people.

The Nigerian government’s actions since the latest BIAFRAN agitations is clearly a continuation of the violence and oppression that occurred during the war.

The most painful aspect of it all is the double standard that is being applied by the Federal Government to the people of Southeast region which consists mostly of the former BIAFRAN territory.

Similar incidents have occurred in other parts of the country, but the government’s response has been very different.

In the case of Ehime Mbano and other parts of Igboland the government is using excessive force and punitive measures instead of finding a more humane resolution like calling for a dialogue with the agitators, which is only causing more resentment and anger.

Despite the dire situation in Igboland, the people have not given up hope.

They are appealing to the international community for help, asking for intervention from the United Nations and other organizations that work to protect human rights.

They are asking for assistance in ending the violence and oppression, and for the restoration of their basic rights.

Meanwhile the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, had condemned the senseless killings that has going in Ehime Mbano community

Iwuanyanwu made this known in a press release made available to RPTVBLOG.

The Ohaneze President made it clear that recent events in the area is sad and unacceptable.

Continuing, he said: “My heart bleeds at the sad events in Igboland where lives is no more sacred.

“I am equally very distressed by the rate at which the Nigerian security operatives are killed not only in Igboland but all over the country.

“Worse still is the reprisal attacks where innocent Igbo sons and daughters from Mbano in Imo State have found their lives and means of livelihood completely destroyed.

“This situation is completely unacceptable to me. It is unacceptable to Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and indeed unacceptable to all honest, right thinking and patriotic Nigerians.

“I condemn it in strongest terms. I am sending a team immediately under the Chairmanship of Barrister CJ Ihemedu the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Imo State Chapter to give me a comprehensive report on the matter.”

Iwuanyanwu also called on the Federal Government to fish out the perpetrators from both sides of this “heinous crime and make sure they face the law.”

It will be recalled that many prominent Individuals, organizations and governors from the Southeast have expressed concern about the human rights abuses and killings that are taking place in the former Biafran territory.
However, there has been little or no concrete action taken by the Federal Government to address the situation.

Many of these aforementioned have insisted that the escalating violence can be linked to the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu and called for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) who was arrested in Kenya in June of 2021, and has been held in the custody of the DSS despite a court ruling that he should be released on bail, but the Nigerian government has refused to do so.

It is very clear and condemnable that the Nigerian government is disregarding international law and human rights norms in the whole matter of BIAFRAN agitations.

As It’s not only Nnamdi Kanu who has been illegally detained, but many other IPOB members and supporters have also been subjected to arbitrary arrest and detention.

In all of these ugly developments the international community has a responsibility to speak out against human rights violations currently going in the region and to use its influence to pressure the Nigerian government to change its policies.

Some specific steps that could be taken include:

• Raising awareness about the situation through media coverage and advocacy campaigns
• Applying diplomatic pressure through sanctions or other measures
• Providing support and assistance to victims of human rights abuses
• Working with international organizations such as the United Nations to investigate and document human rights violations.