By Emma Elekwa, Onitsha

An international Igbo organisation, Igbos for Progressive Nigeria (IPAN) has condemned inciting statements from certain persons within and outside Nigeria encouraging youths of Igbo extraction to take up arms and cause mayhem against other Nigerians.

In a statement on Saturday signed by its President, Mr Lawrence Onuzulike and Media Chief, Mr Okeke Oliver, titled “A call to trade with caution” the group regretted the attribution of the EndSARS protest to Igbo agenda, insisting it was a national action.

Read Also: Nigeria can’t afford another war, Igbo group warns

The statement partly read, “Those instigating violence are not speaking for Ndigbo, especially, as they are giving the impression that there was the hand of Esau in the protest in the first place.

“Whatever be the case, we stand as representatives of the Igbos in our own right, to address and discourage our teaming youths not to adhere to such a wicked directive.”

By Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Anthony Agbazuere has charged the new Commandant of the Nigeria Security & Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Abia State Command, Commandant, Vincent Ogu to interfere with other security agencies in the State and be proactive in order to make Abia safe.

Ikpeazu represented by the Chief of Staff, Anthony Agbazuere gave the advice when he received in audience the new NSCDC Commandant who was in office on a familiarisation visit to the Government House.

Read Also: NSCDC new commandant charges personnel to redouble efforts

The Chief of Staff advised the new Commandant to conscientise traditional rulers and other stakeholders on the need to protect public property in the State, adding that those who break pipe lines, destroy street lights and other government infrastructure should be apprehended and prosecuted.

Earlier, the new State Commandant of the NSCDC, Commandant Vincent Ogu said his visit was to introduce himself as the new Commandant and disclosed that he resumed duty on the 30 of September.

By Shola O’Neil, Port Harcourt

An Ijaw leader in Warri, Delta State, Chief Favour Izoukumor, has expressed shock and denunciation at the Wednesday’s attack on The Nation newspaper and TVC by hoodlums in Lagos.

Izoukumor, who is spokesperson (Fieye-Owei) of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, also condemned the loss of lives, even as he sympathized with the owners of businesses that are being in ongoing carnages raging across the country.

Read Also: Armed men invade The Nation, set office ablaze

“The deaths are sad and avoidable; it is important for us to take a step back as human beings and reflect on who we are; all these hourly and daily reports of killings, arsons, looting pillaging beaming from across the country to the world.”

“These actions are condemnable and totally unwarranted, especially at this critical moment in our nation when we are battling the scourge of the coronavirus and when we are staring at another economic recession. The masterminds must be revealed and allowed to have their days in court with the stiffest penalties.

“It is sad to see people wreaking havoc and destruction on people’s sources of livelihood, throwing people into unemployment and taking food from the mouths of so many people under the guise of protests.”

Our Reporter

The Special Adviser (Security) to former Governor of Anambra State, Col. George Molokwu (Retd), has debunked the rumour making the rounds in some quarters that the former Commander of Awkuzu SARS, Mr. James Nwafor (Retd), was appointed Obi’s Security Adviser, asking the public to disregard the news.

Col. Molokwu was answering questions from Journalists in Onitsha on the state of the nation yesterday.

Col. Molokwu said he was Obi’s Special Adviser (Security) and that the irony of the matter was that he did not even know Mr. Nwafor well nor dealt with him.

Read Also: Opposition peddling falsehood about Obi, says ex-commissioner

In his words, “If I did not know him, the consequence was that my principal, Mr. Peter Obi, would not know him as well.”

Continuing, he said that as the Chief Security Officer of the State, Obi dealt mostly with him on security matters and in rare case directly with Heads of Security agencies.

“When we had cause to interact with other senior security officers, it was my office that did so and I can tell you that there was no possibility of Obi dealing directly with the said Nwafor,” he said.

On the Ezu River issue, he said that Obi was cleared of complexities by all panels and bodies that investigated the barbarism. He said that apart from Obi offering N5million to anybody that would give a clue to who dumped the bodies; he ordered an autopsy and set up a probe panel that was later taken over by Federal authorities.

Commenting on the state of the nation, he assured protesting youths that the nation had heard their grievances, which, according to him, was for the good of everybody, including his own grandchildren. He prayed that their demands would be expectedly met.A retired Infantry Colonel of the Nigerian Army, Molokwu is from Onitsha.