Ohanaeze asks South East residents to ignore Ekpa’s sit-at-home order, places N396m ($500k) bounty for arrest Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the leading I...
Ohanaeze asks South East residents to ignore Ekpa’s sit-at-home order, places N396m ($500k) bounty for arrest
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the leading Igbo social and cultural organization, has asked South East people to defy renowned Biafra agitator Simon Ekpa's two-week sit-at-home ultimatum.
A huge N396m ($500,000) bounty was also set on Ekpa by the organization as a reward for any information that would result in his capture.
This was said in a statement made by Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Secretary-General of the Chidi Ibeh faction of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Sunday, July 22, 2023 in Abakaliki, the capital of the Ebonyi State.
The Ohanaeze declared its determination to bring Ekpa to trial for his alleged financing of armed organizations in the area, along with the support of political leaders from the South East.
The group also urged every Igbo to actively participate in halting violence and disruptions of regional economic activity.
"Ekpa is responsible for the recent rise in violence and insecurity in the region," the statement continues. He has announced a second two-week sit-at-home period from July 31 to August 14, 2023, undermining the power of the South East governors, whose job it is to uphold individuals' rights to life and property under the constitution.
"Ohanaeze has put a sizable $500,000 bounty on Ekpa's head. Anyone who may supply helpful information that would result in his capture and subsequent arrest is eligible for the reward.
A distinct development is that the Igbo community's contribution to Nigeria's social, political, and economic history and progress was highlighted over the weekend in North London, according to Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President General of Ohanaeze.
The Ohanaeze leader emphasized that, in addition to being acknowledged for residing and working throughout the nation, Igbo are also credited with making the largest economic contribution to the GDP.
At a reception the United Kingdom (UK) branch of Ohanaeze hosted in his honor at St. Edmund's Church Hall in Edmonton Green, Iwuanyanwu listed a few of the gifts.
The Igbo leader, who arrived with the former Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Allison Madueke (Rtd), informed the crowd that the Igbo are not only present everywhere and engaged in commerce, but they also contribute the most to Nigeria's GDP.
Speaking to the crowd, Iwuanyanwu revealed plans to build a Hall of Fame and Museum of Igbo History in honor of significant Igbo individuals who have contributed to shaping and maintaining them.