By DAVID-CHYDDY ELEKE, Awka

Youths of the South-east zone of Nigeria have called on the federal government to immediately de-proscribe the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

IPOB, a group championing the independence of a sovereign state if Biafra, was in 2017 designated a terrorist group by a court, leading to its proscription.

But in an emergency meeting held in Awka, Anambra State, yesterday, the young South-east stakeholders said there was need to return peace in the region, stating that part of the steps towards peace would be to de-proscribe IPOB and release any of its members held in prison.

This stance was contained in a communique signed by leaders of various youth organisations, including Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth, National Youth Council of Nigeria (South-east), Nigerian Youth Congress (South-east), National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) among others, which was made available to THISDAY in Awka yesterday.

It said: “Having considered the state of the nation, the increasing state of insecurity, and the overall development of the Igbo nation, it is hereby resolved as follows: ‘The heightened insecurity in the South-east region, which has resulted in the loss of lives of our people, security agents and property, is highly regretted, as we deeply commiserate
with the families of the bereaved.

“We, therefore, call on the South-east state governors to synergize and liaise with the relevant stakeholders, especially the youths, to arrest the current security challenges in the region.

“We condemn totally the wanton destruction of lives and property in the Southeast and call on the perpetrators of these criminal acts to desist from such forthwith, and seek proper means of airing their grievances.“As a step towards genuine peace and reconciliation as championed by the Ohaneze Ndigbo, the federal government and South-east state governors should as a matter of urgency de-proscribe IPOB as a terrorist organisation. Furthermore, we call for the release of all political prisoners of Igbo extraction.

“We also call on the governors to fully implement the recommendations of the #EndSARS panel report especially on youth development, and review the llaws of their various state Security Council Committee to include critical youth stakeholders, while urging for full implementation, support and fund for community policing committee which was constituted last year.” (THISDAY)

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