Niger Delta 'We dare FG to re-arrest Nnamdi Kanu', Militants vow to unleash horror

 

Niger Delta militants have threatened to unleash horror if the Federal Government or the court orders the rearrest of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

It had been reported earlier on Saturday, September 2, that the Nigerian police have placed Kanu under surveillance, allegedly standing by to re-arrest the IPOB leader should the court revoke his bail.

The Federal Government had filed an application before an Abuja Federal High Court, seeking the revocation of Kanu's bail and his re-arrest, alleging that he has violated his bail conditions.

But the militants, who are members of Niger Delta People Democratic Front (NDPDF), Concerned Militant Leaders (CML) and Rainbow Marabas (RM) vowed to launch attacks if Kanu's bail is rescinded.

The militants were said to have given the warning in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, after a crucial meeting.

They also issued a two-week ultimatum to the government to release two detained IPOB members - Chidiebere Onwudiwe and Bright Chimezie - or expect attacks.

Leaders of the groups, identified as General Iyoyo Playboy (NDPDF), General Ben (CML) and General Billy Anaeja, said they would launch spontaneous attacks in major states in the country if Kanu is re-arrested.

In a statement issued by the groups, they accused the Federal Government of playing politics with the lives of Nigerians from South East and South-South geo-political zones.

The statement said: "Federal Government cannot do it; but, if it tries to re-arrest Nnamdi Kanu,  Leader of IPOB, it (FG) will regret the consequences. It will not believe what Nigeria will be thrown into.

"Federal Government has shown, through its moves to re-arrest Nnamdi Kanu, that it does not value lives of Nigerians. Government wants to use attempt to re-arrest the IPOB Leader to escalate the crisis in the country.

"If government is serious, it should go ahead to arrest and wait for the result. We will back IPOB and give the group support in any form, even without them expecting it.

"We learnt that Federal Government has deployed more security to the South-South and South East geo-political because of Nnamdi Kanu. We dare them to go ahead and execute."

The militants queried the perceived government's silence over the activities of Northern youths against the Igbo and killings by Fulani herdsmen.

"What has Federal Government done about arresting Arewa youths, who hate the Igbo people with passion? What has Federal Government done with the Fulani herdsmen? How many of them have been arrested. Why is it silent, but is worried about a non-violent IPOB?

"We are reiterating our stand that we, the Niger Delta agitators, will resist any attempt to re-arrest the IPOB leader. We will resist FG and face the consequences. We are not begging those ruling  not to go ahead and execute their plot", the militants said.

Kanu himself had bragged that Nigeria will burn if he is arrested again, stressing that he has not committed any crime.

On his alleged violation of his bail conditions, the IPOB leader said the conditions were unconstitutional as it violated his fundamental rights of freedom of speech and association.

The bail conditions given to Kanu by Justice Binta Nyako are as follows:

1. Mr. Kanu must not hold rallies.

2. He must not grant interviews.

3. He must not be in a crowd of more than 10 people.

 4. He must provide three sureties in the sum of N100 million each.

5. One of the sureties must be a senior highly placed person of Igbo extraction such as a senator.

6. The second surety must be a highly respected Jewish leader since Mr. Kanu said his religion is Judaism.

7. The third surety must be a highly respected person who owns landed property and is resident in Abuja.

8. The IPOB leader must deposit his Nigerian passport.

9. He must also deposit his British passport with the court.

10. He must provide the court with reports on the progress of his health and treatment on a monthly basis.

 11. The order for him to deposit his Nigerian and British passports also means he cannot travel out of the country (If this is considered, it is the thirteenth condition).