How IPOB attacked us at Enugu meeting — Igbo leaders

Igbo leaders, who were attacked by youths suspected to be members of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and other pro-Biafra agitation groups in a meeting in Enugu on Tuesday have reeled out gory tales of how they nearly lost their lives during the commotion.


Secretary of Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT, and former director-general of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, Prof Elochukwu Amucheazi, said he nearly lost his life during fracas.

A group of youths suspected to be members of IPOB and other pro –Biafra groups disrupted the event which was meant to honour some notable Igbo, including the first republic president, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi and late Chief Sam Mbakwe, among others.

Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB however, issued a statement yesterday, denying involvement in the attack.

Amucheazi told newsmen that, although his red cap, eye glasses and mobile telephone which were forcefully taken away from him were immediately returned, he was still in shock over the attack.

He said:  “I was there to see Prof Nwabueze, as I didn’t even know  about the awards or that anybody would be honoured.

“Before much was said, they started shouting and started throwing sachet (pure) water at  me. They wanted to destroy my car.   We were cautioning them to listen to the elders so that they would learn from them, but they refused to listen.

“However, some of the boys who didn’t like what happened or the way I was treated, cautioned their colleagues; collected my red cap, eye glasses and my telephone and returned them to me.”

He, however, asked the Federal Government to address the myriad of grievances in the the country to reduce youth restiveness in the land.

“There is a lot of anger in the land. Majority of Nigerians are suffering and the government of the day has to address the issues involved. This idea of treating some people or the Igbo as a conquered people will not be allowed to go on forever.

“My advice is that the government should address the grievances in the land. The idea of treating Igbo as a conquered people will not be allowed to go on forever. The fact that Nnamdi Kanu was subdued does not mean that another Nnamdi Kanu   will not emerge again,” he added.