Sequel to Friday’s killing in Onitsha, Anambra State, the youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has raised the alarm that the crisis between security forces and members of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) protesting the continued detention of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, which led to the death of about eight protesters, could lead to another civil war if not properly handled.

Ohanaeze Youth Council, in a press statement, issued on Saturday, in Umuahia, warned that Nigeria was treading on a slippery ground if no quick solution was found the root cause of the escalating protests by IPOB.

The statement, which was signed by the national president of OYC, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro; and the national secretary, Mazi Nnabuike Okwu, respectively, expressed shock that the sustained peaceful protests by IPOB across the South-Eastern states suddenly turned bloody in Onitsha.

OYC restated its earlier call on IPOB members, as well as members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), to halt their festering protests to avoid being hijacked by “miscreants and enemies of Ndigbo.”

According to OYC, “Enemies of Ndigbo must have hijacked the peaceful protests in Onitsha to foment trouble just to create the wrong impression that IPOB and MASSOB are now violent organisations, giving excuses to security agents to use maximum force to quell them.

“That is why we want to repeat our appeal to the Biafran agitators to please stop further protests in the interest of Ndigbo. They should not forget that the enemies of Ndigbo are looking for any slightest opportunity to turn South East to another theatre of war.”

OYC, which said its leadership “is in touch with the Federal Government” on securing the release for Kanu, assured that the Radio Biafra Director would soon regain his freedom, as “the negations with the federal government are at the final stage.”

“We are negotiating with the federal government on a possible political solution over Kanu’s issue. We are on top of the situation, and we hope, very soon that he will be released. OYC is ready to go to any length to secure his release MASSOB and IPOB should not truncate this process with their continued protests.”

OYC appealed to the federal government to expedite action on the peace process towards releasing Kanu, arguing that his continued incarceration posed a serious threat to the peace of the country, especially the South East.

Suing for peace, OYC said political solution and not application of force, remained the only panacea to the festering pro- Biafran protests.

“The National Security Adviser should, as a matter of urgency, convene another meeting with the leadership of Ohanaeze, MASSOB and IPOB to find political solution to the escalating protests to avoid Nigeria sliding into another avoidable civil war. (Nigerian Tribune)

•Photo shows pro-Biafra protest.