The Ane Igala Restoration (AIR), a social-cultural organization representing the Igala people, has called for the immediate release of the Igwe of Igga, Ambrose Agbakata, who was arrested following violence in Igga community, in Enugu state.
AIR alleged that the Igwe has been detained for over a week without charge and accuses the government of making the Igala people scapegoats.
A statement jointly signed by the National President, Apostle Odekina Ekpe Ocholl and Deputy National Secretary, Barr Salifu Oguche Usman, the group called for a high-powered investigation into the cause of the crisis and urged the Nigerian president to consider merging Igala communities with Kogi state during any future restructuring of the country.
Bellow is the full text of the statement:
NEWS RELEASE
ANE IGALA RESTORATION(AIR) DEMAND THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF IGWE AGBRAKATA 111 OF IGGA AND THE RESTORATION OF PEACE IN IGGA LAND.
ANE IGALA RESTORATION(AIR), a social cultural organisation of the Igala People and Nation wishes to draw the attention of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Government of Enugu state and well meaning Nigerians to the plight and sufferings of the good and peace loving people of IGGA in Uzowani Local Government Area of Enugu state.
May we state in passing, that the present ordeal of our kits and kin in Uzowani LGA of Enugu state started a few weeks back when the peaceful people of Bimbo were attacked by Headers, while the attackers were apparently known to the Government and other discerning minds, some mischief makers went to town To place the blame on the peace loving People of IGGA this leading to reprisals and other manifestations of security breaches.
In the confusion that followed the development, the IGWE AGBRAKATA OF IGGA was arrested and has been detained without any form of justification for over a week now. He has been kept incommunicado for these periods without any formal charge or accusations.
These have been the lots of our people scattered all over Enugu state for decades, they are often made Scape goats and made to carry crosses that bore no link to their actions. They are stigmatized and treated as second class citizens.
These and more have been the basis of their continuous agitation to be excised from the South East and joined with their kit and kin in Kogi state.
While we bemoan these unfortunate happenings, may we use this opportunity to call on the Governor of Enugu state to release HRH IGWE Herbert Ukuta and all his details arrested from Igga in connection with the Uzo _Uwani disturbance unconditionally forthwith.
May we also call on the Enugu state Government to institute a high powered panel of investigation to cursorily investigate the direct and remote cause of the crisis, ascertain the culprits and ensure that appropriate measures are taken to prevent reoccurrence.
May we also call on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to kindly consider the plight of our IGALA brothers who are scattered all across the South Eastern states in the event of a possible reorganization and restructuring of the country for them to be merged in a state with their kit and kin in Kogi state.
Apostle Odekina Ekpe Ocholl, PhD
National President
Salifu Oguche Usman, Esq, LL.M
Deputy National Secretary
For Ane Igala Restoration(AIR)