Following the reports of the unfortunate incident in the South East on the 30th of May 2024, which resulted in the death of two soldiers on their duty post, the President and CEO of ECK Foundation, Chief Dr Emeka Kalu, has described the action as barbaric and unwarranted. He insists that the matter should be well investigated to ensure that any form of political colouration is proven otherwise.

Recall that on May 30th, 2024, IPOB declared a Sit-at-home to mourn the dead of millions of Biafrans, both soldiers and innocent people who fell during the genocidal civil war that lasted for over 3 years. In a statement signed by Comr. Amos Kalu, his Chief Press Secretary, made available to pressmen in Abuja, said it is unfortunate that the federal government, after many years of the unfortunate incident, has not deemed it a national tragedy and declared a day to honour men, women, and children that died on both sides of the war. Instead, the government has chosen to see it as a taboo that must never be mentioned, hence their persistent efforts to quench it at any mention of the name “Biafra”, including the use of a “stick and carrot” approach that has compounded the matter under President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Biafra is an ideology that is difficult to kill. No matter how you suppress it, it will keep raising its head until the time you recognize that reconciliation is the only solution to move Nigeria forward. You cannot continue to shortchange a particular set of people in their supposed country and expect them to keep calm. Only a tree will hear it will be cut down in the night, then you come in the morning and still meet it there. It is high time the Federal Government accepts our realities as a nation and lays the issue of Biafra to rest like June 12, Militancy, and other issues of national concern rather than keep pushing to radicalize these agitators.

“It will not cost Nigeria its pride to apply Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration (the jettisoned RRR) as a healing process, which will help to curb the constant loss of lives of our gallant soldiers who have vowed to serve their fatherland, on one part, and innocent citizens who will fall to collateral damage due to actions of a few desperate hoodlums who may be acting out scripts of some desperate politicians,” he said.

Chief Kalu also allayed his reservation, though not exonerating non-state actors, but argued that we have seen in the past where politicians create chaos to score cheap political goals.

“For hindsight and past experiences, this looks like a politically motivated action aimed at tarnishing the image of the working governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Chioma Otti, who has so quickly grown popular in the Southeast, especially coming from a minor political party. That is why this incident must be pursued to its logical conclusion. We must not be cajoled by rushed statements from some quarters when no investigation has been carried out and the perpetrators brought to book.

“I sincerely sympathize with the families of those who lost their lives while protecting the citizens, and I also sympathize with the Military Authority who has continued to sacrifice their all in defence of our unity and sovereignty. May their gentle souls rest in peace, and may justice be found for them in good time,” he prayed.