Igbo Land Bleeds by Uzoma Ahamefule

Igbo politicians, please, do not allow Nnamdi Kanu die in prison

Introduction

Since the extradition of Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya to Nigeria sleep has eluded Ndigbo and many people have been killed as Igbo land bleeds. Many Igbo houses have been destroyed or deserted for safety. They are now fugitives and refugees in their ancestral land as they wander, and anyone who dares cry and complain publicly runs into trouble. They are under siege and fear from unknown gunmen. Their lives are now endangered.

The history of Ndigbo is one known to be full of bravery, industriousness, equity, justice and fairness, with a very high moral standard. Ndigbo are hospitable, value human beings and see life as sacrosanct. Their justice system was unbiased, very efficient and effective until the white man came and did not only make it look inferior but equally destroyed everything about their religion, culture and ways of life. The philosophy of their life is anchored on the principle of justice, equal rights and opportunities for all. Consequently, these wanton killings in Igbo land currently are alien to Ndigbo, and it is absurd and embarrassing. Are Igbos the perpetrators of these dastardly murders or has an enemy infiltrated Igbo land?

Events that happened around Ndigbo since existence showed a people that loved themselves and that were united. But ugly incidences that have been consistent since the white man came and sowed his evil seed of disunity, exploitation and imperialism degenerated the situation of things from bad to worse. Family core values have been lost in most homes. Since after the civil war things seem to have fallen apart in the lives of Ndigbo and the centre of Igbo spirit does not hold anymore.

According to historians, slaves from West Africa that were shipped to America before 1803 were around 1.7 million, and estimated 1.3 million of them were Ndigbo. 75 from these Igbo slaves were said to have been in a ship en route to a local slave market where they were to be auctioned like tomatoes and animals to interested slave buyers, but in unity and one accord they overpowered the crew and sank the ship – preferring to die rather than live as slaves. According to another version of the story the ship actually got to a place known today in Georgia as “Igbo Landing”, and these Igbos came out from the ship – as they were chained together – and walked into the river and drowned. While they were walking into the river to meet death, they were singing, “By the water spirits we came and by the water spirits we will be taken home,” historians wrote. It must have been heart breaking.

Abused, brutalized and in pain, even at the point of death these 75 Igbos were still formidably united to resist oppression and did not betray each other. They preferred to die together than accept the way those who were not civilized but falsely claimed to know civilization had treated them. “Onuru ube nwanne agbalaoso” (When one hears the cry of a brother or a sister/or a relative one should not run away.) That is indeed the spirit of Ndigbo. Their bonds are like the connection between eyes and nose – they are too strong. When the eye starts crying the nose joins. And that was why Ndigbo survived the 20 pounds policy after the war.

The Igbo culture of “Onye aghala nwanne ya” (No one leaves a brother/sister or a relative behind”)” is unbreakable. What happened to this Igbo bond? Is blood no longer thicker than water? Why are there too many killings currently going on in Igbo land? The lives of innocent Ndigbo grossly abused, brutalized and shortly terminated in Igbo land are avoidable tragedies that should not be continued. The situation is pathetic and those who are alive are in perpetual fear. Is there a war in ala-Igbo? Why are Ndigbo leaders silent?

More than 5,000 people have been reportedly killed in just one local government, precisely in Orsu, Imo State, within the last four years. The US government will be ready to spend billions and go to war – like it is now between Israel and Gaza – just to save the life of one citizen. Please Governor Hope Uzodimma, Orsu bleeds. Other parts of the state you govern are equally not spared from similar tragedies and agonies. Owerri, the capital city has another alleged added sad story of security forces stopping youths on the streets, searching their phones and forcing them to make transfers of money under duress. Owerri used to be a place people from other parts of Igbo land and beyond came to for weekends’ relaxation, but not anymore. What is going on, Sir?

Igbo governors, Senators, Reps members, politicians, traditional rulers and religious leaders, the gods are angry. Because Igbos are being chased outside Igbo land, and in Igbo land they equally do not find comfort, as enemies have laid ambush ready to massacre them in their places of worship and in their sleeping homes. What are you people doing as leaders? Forget whatever any sycophant around you tells you, ala-Igbo is on fire, and we are the losers.

Please do not enter into any unholy alliance in the name of searching for peace for that thing which you may look for in Sokoto is in Aba. Freedom of Nnamdi Kanu holds the key to a sustainable peace we yearn for. His continuous incarceration has destroyed ala Igbo, and every minute he still stays in prison destroys businesses, shrinks and drains the Igbo economy further. For the sake of tranquillity in the east, if we are not playing to the gallery because of 2027, and not deliberately wanting to destroy Igbo land, Nnamdi Kanu should please be released, and all Igbo leaders must do something collectively to ensure that it happens and merely lip services. A square peg should be put in a square hole. Without his freedom the elusive chase for peace will continue to be a hopeless mission and a mirage as anarchy looms.

Because every action attracts reaction, therefore, Prof. Soludo’s recent launch of “Operation Udo Ga-Achi” security in Anambra is part of his response to the criminality and killings going on in Igbo land, and it is a very welcomed development that is commendable. However, that is not a permanent solution to the insecurity problem in Anambra and beyond. The release of Kanu is. For Kanu’s incarceration is the genesis of the current proliferation of arms in wrong hands, the unrest and the killings. But what happened to the established eastern states security called “Ebube Agu”? Ndigbo will like to know.

As we commend the initiative of Prof. Soludo’s “Operation Udo Ga-Achi”, it is imperative that we advise him to trend with caution and restrain his agents from arresting innocent people and parading them half naked in handcuffs like we have seen. It is overzealousness and it is not civilized. Every suspect should be properly investigated and be treated with dignity. Allegations of jungle justice so far should be investigated and justice served. Again, some Prof. Soludo’s taskforce agents in Onitsha operate like touts, and we cannot continue to celebrate mediocrity and brutality as a way of governance in Igbo land.

In Ebonyi, the state of Governor Francis Nwifuru, terrorists under the guise of herders have taken over his territory as the fear of kidnappers grip and scare visitors from the state. It is the same thing in Abia and Enugu State. Every part of Igbo land bleeds and this can no longer be tolerated.

For the restoration of peace and to stop the bloodshed, we must appeal to President Tinubu for the release of Nnamdi Kanu. We must make him to understand that enemies have capitalized on the loophole of his incarceration to destroy ala-Igbo, and made it very difficult to differentiate genuine freedom agitators from criminals. We must not fail from this mission.

Uzoma Ahamefule, a concerned patriotic citizen, and a refined African traditionalist, writes from Vienna, Austria.