I did not order policy or army to shoot at Biafran protesters - Ikpeazu washes hands off Aba Massacre

I did not order policy or army to shoot at Biafran protesters - Ikpeazu washes hands off Aba Massacre

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State have washed off hands on the death of the unarmed member of Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB), who was shot dead by the men of security operatives in Aba, Abia State, on Monday, 18th January 2016, while in a peaceful demonstration.

Ikpeazu who spoke through his Information minister, denies given any security operatives instructions to shoot the peaceful protesters.

“Our attention has been drawn to a malicious report on the internet ostensibly masterminded by the opposition in Abia State that Governor Ikpeazu ordered troops to shoot at the protesting members of the IPOB, against the continued detention of the Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.”

The statement added that as the Chief Security Officer of the state Dr. Ikpeazu, is responsible for law and order as well as the protection of lives and property in the state.

“He has lived up to this responsibility both in his personal disposition and in his public conduct as the governor of the state. His message to the youths has always been that they conduct themselves within the ambit of the law and in a manner that would not cause a breach of public peace.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State

“It must also be noted that Governor Ikpeazu does not have the powers to order or mobilize the Armed Forces to shoot at any group. The Army takes its orders directly from the military high command and the Federal Government.

The Army exists to protect the territorial integrity of the country and nip-off any external aggression and only intervene when there is a high level of threat to peace and breakdown of law and order.”

According to the statement, while the governor regretted the violent outcome of the protest, he appealed to the people of the state and particularly the youths of Aba, to give peace a chance and desist from actions that will lead to further violence.