Chidi Samuel || The lawyer to the self-proclaimed leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB), Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor on Tuesday said that his client has been placed under house arrest by soldiers of the Nigeria Army.
Ejiofor’s declaration followed the occupation of the surroundings leading to Kanu’s home at Afara Ukwu- Ibekuin Umuahia on Tuesday by soldiers.
The lawyer in a statement issued shortly after the incident said he got a distress call his client but that he couldn’t confirm whether he is alive or dead.
Ejiofor equally accused the soldiers of killing four members of the Biafra separatist group.
The statement read, “Just to notify the world that my client’s (Nnamdi Kanu) house is presently under siege by the trigger-happy soldiers acting under the direct instruction of chief of army staff.”
“He has been placed under house arrest at the moment while shooting sporadically into the air. Casualties are being counted as the unprovoked assault progresses. Some IPOB members have just been killed at least four people.
“They drove in in their thousands to arrest and maim him. I just got a distress call from him now. Further efforts to establish contact with him have remained unsuccessful.
“As it stands now, I can’t confirm whether he is dead or alive.”
According to the lawyer, the federal government is attempting to “eliminate” Kanu through ‘Operation Python Dance,’ the military exercise recently launched in the south-east.
“It (the exercise) is yielding the desired result to the presidency, having launched a manhunt for my client and unarmed members if Indigenous People of Biafra,” he added.
“Let the world know that the federal government has practically abandoned their case in court in search of a brute route to eliminate my client.
“As I type this statement, his residence has been cordoned off by the military, majority of whom are of Fulani extraction.
“The world should hold the Buhari-led federal government responsible if anything untoward happens to Nnamdi Kanu. The situation is very tense at the moment.”