SANs condemn attacks in south-east, ask FG to embrace dialogue

The Concerned Senior Advocates of Nigeria of South-east Extraction, a group of senior lawyers, has condemned the attacks on government facilities in the region.

In recent times, the south-east region has witnessed a spate of attacks on police stations, courts, prison facilities and other government facilities, leading to the death of several security operatives.

The police have repeatedly linked violent attacks to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its security outfit, Eastern Security Network (ESN).

However, IPOB has denied its involvement in the violent attacks in the region.

Speaking on the development, the concerned south-east SANs, in a statement by Udechukwu Udechukwu, said the attacks do not represent “aspirations of the good people” of the region.

“The concerned south-east SANs condemn unequivocally and in very clear terms the said acts of arson and the taking of human lives in the process. These acts of violence are not supported and cannot be supported by the people of the southeast,” the statement reads.

“The concerned south-east SANs commiserate with the families of law enforcement officers, other public servants and private individuals who have lost their loved ones as a result of the recent carnage.

“Southeasterners are peace-loving, law-abiding and development-oriented people and the recent carnage is not representative of the aspirations of the good people of the south-east, just as is the case with the other geo-political zones of the country where there have been security challenges.”

The group accused the federal government of exhibiting “double standards with regard to the response of federal security agencies in the south-east” when compared to other zones battling insecurity.

They, however, asked the federal government to embrace dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the agitations in different parts of the country.

“The concerned south-east SANs also appeal to the federal government to embrace dialogue and diplomacy as a means of resolving the myriad of growing disaffections across the entire country in the interest of peace and unity of the federal republic of Nigeria,” the group said.

“The concerned south-east SANs also appeal to all Nigerians especially those in leadership positions to desist from rhetoric capable of inflaming the situation rather than bringing the desired peace and unity which we earnestly desire.

“In this regard, the Concerned Southeast SANs respectfully request His Excellency, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, GCFR, His Excellency Dr. Ebele Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, His Excellency, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, CFR, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Colonel Dangiwa Umar (Rtd), jointly with other well-meaning Nigerians from the six geopolitical zones to intervene quickly in the matter with a view to securing a truce which would provide a conducive atmosphere for resolving the underlying issues which are currently threatening the survival of our dear nation.”