South-east is not a war zone, withdraw your soldiers within 21 days – Group tells Buratai
– Igbo National Council has called on the Nigeria army to withdraw the soldiers deployed to the region for Operation Python Dance II
– The group said the south-east is not a war zone and the soldiers have no business in the region
– They threaten to sue the Nigeria army if the soldiers are not evacuated within the stipulated time
The Igbo National Council (INC) has given Army Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, a 21-day ultimatum to end the Operation Python Dance II in the south-east.
The group said the south-east region is not a war zone and asked the army chief to withdraw all the soldiers posted to the area within 21 days or be sued at the International Criminal Court (ICC), Daily Post reports.
In a statement signed by the group’s national president, Chilos Godsent, the group said: “In view of the above, the Igbo National Council, INC, has analysed the state of the Southeast and the Nigerian state and hereby state the following.
“The Nigeria state is not at war with the people of South-East Nigeria, and therefore wish to call on the president and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces.
“The leadership of the National Assembly to mandate the Minister of Defence staff, Chief of Army Staff, to immediately withdraw the military arbitrarily deployed to Southeast to murder innocent civilians.
“If this is not adhered to within twenty one days (21) the Igbo National Council, INC, will petition and also sue the Nigeria Army and the Federal government, to International Criminal Court (ICC) for genocide against the armless people of the southeast Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, the chief of army staff has warned members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) against any action capable of breaching the peace of the southeast.
Buratai made this known while addressing a press conference at the army headquarters in Abuja.
plusmilang.com gathered that he said the warning has become necessary as the military will commence the second phase of Exercise Egwu Eke II (Python Dance II) by September 15.
