ATTACK ON CHIEF SUNDAY ADEYEMO: Group, Prominent South East Leaders Of Thought React

The Nzuko Umunna is an influential pan-Igbo think-tank comprising of the leading lights of the Igbo Nation in Nigeria and the diaspora.

Nzuko Umunna stands in solidarity now and at all times with all rights activists and especially the Yoruba Nation in their quest for justice and equity.

Following the armed attack on the residence of popular Yoruba activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo aka "Sunday Igboho" by agents of the Department of State Security Services, DSS in the early hours of Wednesday, 30th June, 2021 that left the premises shattered, the Nzuko Umunna has issued a press release on its position. 

In the statement signed by Mr. Ngozi Odumuko and  Mr. Paschal Mbanefo, Executive Secretary and Executive Council, respectively and made available to journalists on Friday, the Nzuko Umunna said;

"NzukoUmunna is deeply concerned about the attack by a joint team of security operatives on the Ibadan residence of foremost Yoruba rights activist, Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo, alias Sunday Igboho". 

"It is even more worrisome that the State Security Service/Department of State Services (DSS) has admitted that its operatives “raided” Igboho’s residence and “gunned down” two persons “while the rest were subdued and arrested.”

"NzukoUmunna observes with deep concern that ‘sting operations’ by Nigeria’s security agencies has become synonymous with predictable bloodletting, contrary to similar operations in other climes. We recall the raid on the Afara-Ukwu home of Leader of the Indigineous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the more recent attack on the residence of his lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor. The seeming impunity and lack of accountability for these killings by security operatives may have emboldened this unacceptable breach of globally accepted rules of engagement. This must stop! The Department of State Services must operate within the ambit of Nigeria’s Constitution and laws, moreso as the Service admits that no-one or entity can be above the law".

"We expect the Department of State Services to conduct a thorough investigation on cases before briefing Nigerians and other stakeholders on its operations. Its position must be based on hard facts rather than mere suspicions as to the source of the fire arms allegedly found in Chief Igboho’s house. More importantly, the Department of State Services must shun media trial".

"The events of the last few days are grave and troubling, and can only worsen the heightened socio-political barometer of the polity. We totally deplore the seeming onslaught on rights activists and regional agitators. This feeds into the worrisome but widespread view that there is a deliberate attack on progressive elements in order to further shrink the civic space. Nzuko Umunna is highly worried by this situation, and urges the Federal Government to immediately pull back its agents from this state of affairs".

"Nzuko Umunna stands in solidarity now and at all times with all rights activists and especially the Yoruba Nation in their quest for justice and equity".

SIGNED

Mr. Ngozi Odumuko 

Executive Secretary 

Mr. Paschal Mbanefo 

Executive Council  

ABOUT NZUKO UMUNNA

Nzuko Umunna is an influential pan-Igbo think-tank comprising of the leading lights of the Igbo Nation in Nigeria and the diaspora.