We have a duty to restore order, suppress insurrection,
says army
Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu and Emmanuel Ugwu in
Umuahia

It was a harrowing experience for motorists moving and
going out of Umuahia, the capital city of Abia State monday
as pro-Biafran protesters caused gridlock following their
march on the streets of Umuahia.
The protesters, who had carried out similar activities in
some cities in South-east and South-south last week, were
peaceful while residents of Umuahia went about their
economic activities. Members of the Indigenous People of
Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualisation of the
Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), who participated in the
protest march, had disrupted economic activities in the
commercial city of Aba last week before arriving at the state
capital monday.
As in previous cases, the protesters said they were calling
for the release of the detained director of Radio Biafra, Mr.
Nnamdi Kanu, who is still in the custody of the federal
authorities. They carried the portrait of Kanu and waved the
Biafran flag while chanting freedom songs.
Security agents, including the army, police, civil defence
were on hand to maintain law and order as the protesters in
their hundreds, marched from Isi Court in Umuahia South
Local Government, then entered Aba Road, Umuwaya
Roads, as well as Bende and Enugu Roads, all in the capital
city.
The state police command in reacting to the protest said it
was peaceful.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ezekiel
Udeviotu Onyeke, said that the police exhibited
“international best practices of rule of engagement” in
handling the situation.
The protesters made efforts to march through Bank Road
which would have brought them near government house but
they were blocked by armed security personnel. There were
heightened and combined surveillance activities of security
men as early as 5a.m. even before the protest march
commenced around.
Despite the overall peaceful nature of the protest march, an
unidentified young man got a raw deal from the army who
thought he was recording them with his handset whereas
the young man was trailing his phone camera on the protest
march. The incident which occurred at the Abia Tower at the
intersection of Aba-Bende road, led to the troops
descending on the hapless young man and giving him the
beating of his life.
But by the increased mass protests by the groups and other
affiliated groups in some parts of the South-east and South-
south states, the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army monday
warned that it has the constitutional mandate to suppress
insurrection and restore order and would not hesitate to do
so.
In a statement read to journalists by the Assistant Director,
Army Public Relations, Col. Hamza Gambo, on behalf of the
General Officer Commanding the Division, at the Division’s
headquarters in Enugu, the command noted that once they
are called upon to play their legally mandated role, they
would do so with utmost sense of duty and responsibility to
the nation.
The army noted that in the past three weeks, there had been
marked increase in the activities of the pro-Biafra groups in
parts of the two zones, stressing that these activities include
protest marches, demonstrations and reported cases of
outright lawlessness and threat to lives and properties.
The Division expressed dismay that these agitations and
protests had led to an increased sense of insecurity across
the two zones.
“The truism of freedom of expression and peaceful
assembly is not contestable particularly as it is guaranteed
by Sections 39 (1) and 40 of the constitution. Instructively,
this constitutional guarantee does not allow for abuse of
other person’s freedom and safety.
“It is however pertinent to note that same constitution vide
Section 217 (2) mandates the Armed Forces of Nigeria to
suppress insurrection and act in aid of civil authority to
restore order when called upon to do so. To this end, if and
when the Nigerian Army is called upon to play its legally
mandated role, it shall do so with utmost sense of duty and
responsibility to the nation.
“In such instance, the Nigerian Army shall act within the
Rules of Engagement accordingly,” it said, while reassuring
all law-abiding citizens that they have nothing to fear.
Gambo noted that the army remained committed to
protecting democratic norms while ensuring a peaceful
environment for socio-economic activities to thrive.

www.thisdaylive.com/articles/pro-biafra-activists-protest-in-umuahia/225866/

Like seriously its getting more than what we expect