₦airaland Forum

Human rights lawyer and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has said that politically sponsored cult groups, not the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, are the main drivers of insecurity in the South-East.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Odinkalu acknowledged that the separatist movement contributes to the insecurity in the region.

However, he described it as “ridiculous” to attribute every violent incident in the region to IPOB.

“Let me tell you this: the biggest single issue, in security terms, confronting the South-East, in my estimation, based on the work I have done on this, is, I regret to disappoint you, not IPOB, it is one word: cults, financed by politicians.


“All right? Now, the cults are the biggest single issue, and you don’t have a clue how terrible the problem of cults in the South-East is at this particular time.”

Odinkalu noted that the menace of cultism in the region has reached alarming levels, adding that political sponsorship has emboldened these groups and intensified insecurity. The ex-NHRC chairman maintained that there might be a connection between cultism and IPOB, but he stated that “cults financed by politicians, that is the biggest single security challenge confronting the South-East at this time.”

IPOB, he argued, cannot be sustained in certain communities in the South-East, which according to him renders the argument that the group is solely responsible for the insecurity in the five states exaggerated.

“Unquestionably, there is an IPOB issue, but the IPOB issue is overblown,” he said.

Odinkalu’s remarks come amid renewed attacks on security posts, police officers, and residents in parts of the South-East—incidents that have frequently been blamed on IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network.

He urged security agencies and policymakers to focus more on tackling politically motivated violence and the proliferation of cult groups, which he described as the “biggest single security challenge” confronting the region today.

attackgat:
Human rights lawyer and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has said that politically sponsored cult groups, not the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, are the main drivers of insecurity in the South-East.

“Let me tell you this: the biggest single issue, in security terms, confronting the South-East, in my estimation, based on the work I have done on this, is, I regret to disappoint you, not IPOB, it is one word: cults, financed by politicians.

hotseat:
Mr Odinkalu, please, watch your utterances!

IPOB, undeniably, set the tone for the different criminal activities going on in the SE.

IPOB was viewed as a symbol of resistance by many Igbos and as time went on, other criminal gangs hijacked it to cause mayhem.

To now blame politicians solely for the predicament being faced by the people of the SE is tantamount to deflecting the role of IPOB in the creation of the descent to anarchy and wanton bloodshed.

The SE simply sowed the wind and are now reaping the whirlwind.

No amount of deflections or deodorization of the originating role of IPOB in all of these would work.

Odinkalu: call a spade by its name!




@hotseat

Softmirror:
Cult killings and IPOB killings. Don't try and hide these killings under cultism Abeg.

chiagozien:
Continue deceiving yourself

Penguin2:
You are right. IPOB set the tone. But they are not completely responsible for the carnage that is currently going on in the entire region. That’s the point Odinkalu is making.

I watched the interview and Odinkalu didn’t exonerate IPOB but only trying to educate those who attribute every incident in the region to IPOB.

IPOB would never kidnap Igbos and demand ransom; and sometimes kill victims after ransom has been paid.

chiagozien:
Continue deceiving yourself

Softmirror:
The Finnish government you mean?!

chiagozien:
Yes in Finnish government and he should remain there.


In his next world, he will never work for your zoo government

Softmirror:
Is that what the Finnish government told you?!

chiagozien:
What you don't know is bigger than you?

attackgat:
Human rights lawyer and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has said that politically sponsored cult groups, not the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, are the main drivers of insecurity in the South-East.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Odinkalu acknowledged that the separatist movement contributes to the insecurity in the region.

However, he described it as “ridiculous” to attribute every violent incident in the region to IPOB.

“Let me tell you this: the biggest single issue, in security terms, confronting the South-East, in my estimation, based on the work I have done on this, is, I regret to disappoint you, not IPOB, it is one word: cults, financed by politicians.


“All right? Now, the cults are the biggest single issue, and you don’t have a clue how terrible the problem of cults in the South-East is at this particular time.”

Odinkalu noted that the menace of cultism in the region has reached alarming levels, adding that political sponsorship has emboldened these groups and intensified insecurity. The ex-NHRC chairman maintained that there might be a connection between cultism and IPOB, but he stated that “cults financed by politicians, that is the biggest single security challenge confronting the South-East at this time.”

IPOB, he argued, cannot be sustained in certain communities in the South-East, which according to him renders the argument that the group is solely responsible for the insecurity in the five states exaggerated.

“Unquestionably, there is an IPOB issue, but the IPOB issue is overblown,” he said.

Odinkalu’s remarks come amid renewed attacks on security posts, police officers, and residents in parts of the South-East—incidents that have frequently been blamed on IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network.

He urged security agencies and policymakers to focus more on tackling politically motivated violence and the proliferation of cult groups, which he described as the “biggest single security challenge” confronting the region today.


https://punchng.com/cults-not-ipob-driving-south-east-insecurity-odinkalu/
When I listened to Prof Odinkalu Chidi about his claim that The atrocities committed in south East was done by cultist not IPOB with all the obvious evidence. I was so disappointed in him. Honestly as along we have people like Chidi Odinkalu as leader of South East, they have long way to go in that region. So it is cultist that killed
Dr. Akunyili the husband of Dora Akinyuli
Ahmed Gulak
The Hausa pregnant lady along with her four kids
The army lady and her husband to be be
The list is on and on.

Penguin2:
You are right. IPOB set the tone. But they are not completely responsible for the carnage that is currently going on in the entire region. That’s the point Odinkalu is making.

I watched the interview and Odinkalu didn’t exonerate IPOB but only trying to educate those who attribute every incident in the region to IPOB.

IPOB would never kidnap Igbos and demand ransom; and sometimes kill victims after ransom has been paid.