Igbo Women Demand End To Military Checkpoints In Southeast, Call For Kanu’s Release

The Igbo Women Assembly (IWA) has issued a fervent plea to President Bola Tinubu, demanding the immediate dismantling and removal of all military checkpoints and roadblocks in the Southeast region.

The group, inaugurated Tuesday in Umuahia, Abia State, described the checkpoints as humiliating and dehumanising, transforming the region into a perceived war zone despite the absence of actual conflict.

IWA President, Mrs. Nneka Chimezie, addressed journalists following the group’s inaugural meeting.

She vehemently condemned the harassment faced by civilians, including interrogations, forced hand-raising, and beatings at these checkpoints.

She asserted that the narrative of “unknown gunmen” was strategically employed by enemies of the Igbo people to destabilize the region.

Chimezie questioned the lack of action against Asari Dokubo, a former militant leader who publicly claimed to be working with the military against the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

“This character appeared on national television, admitting his group’s involvement in fighting alongside the military in Imo State, yet he remains free,” she stated, questioning if he isn’t, in fact, one of the “unknown gunmen.”

The IWA president also called for the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader, believing his continued incarceration exacerbates the security situation.

She advocated for the reinstatement of community and village vigilantes, arguing that the military’s attempt to tackle insecurity single-handedly has proven ineffective.

Chimezie also addressed the upcoming Ohanaeze Ndigbo presidency, urging that the position be ceded to an Igbo person from Rivers State.

She cautioned against any attempt to handpick a successor, stating that the presidency should revert to Abia State if Rivers State declines.

Beyond the political and security concerns, the IWA’s founding aims are to promote Igbo language and culture, instill proper behaviour in Igbo children, and uphold the values of purity, honesty, and respectability within the community.

Professor Nkechinyere Ohaike of the National Institute of Nigerian Languages (NINLAN), Aba, delivered a lecture emphasising the importance of preserving the Igbo language, warning against its predicted extinction by UNESCO.

She urged Igbo women to teach their children their native tongue and culture, suggesting scholarships for Igbo language students and competitions to promote the language.

The event concluded with calls for cooperation and mutual support among IWA members, highlighting the need for collective action to address the challenges facing Igbo women and the region.