The group, the Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT), led by Prof
Ben Nwabueze condemned what he described as the humiliation and attendant
killings of people in the region by the army.The
Nation reports that the Igbo leaders in a communique signed by Nwabueze after a
meeting in Enugu, on Monday, October 9, also called for a similar military
exercise in the Niger Delta region, code named, Operation Crocodile Smile to be
stopped.
The
group however faults the proscription of Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist
organisation, adding that the proscription was not backed by the extant
national and international laws.
The
ILT advocated for the drafting of a new constitution gearing towards true
federalism and regional autonomy affirmed through a referendum.
The
communique issued by the group read in part: “The ILT demands on early
convocation of a constituent assembly that would draft a new constitution that gears towards true federalism and regional autonomy affirmed through a
referendum.“ILT
condemns the proscription of Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist
organisation because it is not there under the extant national and
international laws.
“The
ILT calls for a thorough investigation into the allegation by the Minister of
State for Petroleum (Dr IbeKachikwu) against the Group Managing Director (GMD)
of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for insubordination and
by-passing the board of the corporation.
“Finally,
the ILT would like to reiterate, for emphasis, the support for the widespread
clamour in the country for restructuring.”
Meanwhile,
the troops of 81 Division of the Nigerian army on October 7, launched
its 2017 training exercise tagged Operation Crocodile Smile in Lagos and Ogun
state.
The
southwest exercise is expected to last three weeks and end on October 28, 2017.
The
spokesman of the division, Lieutenant Colonel OlaoluDaudu, in a statement on
Monday, October 9, said that the exercise will also avail troops the
opportunity to sharpen combat skills in the conduct of land base as well as
joint riverine operation.
Daudu
added that the exercise may transform into real operations to deal with
emerging security challenges such as kidnappings, cultism, armed robbery,
pipeline vandalism, and insurgency, among others....nations news
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