The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has decried the exclusion of 1443 repented Biafran Agitators and Igbo militants from the Federal Government’s Amnesty programme under the military’s Operation Safe Corridor (OPSC).
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in a statement issued on Sunday by Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Thompson Ohia, its Deputy President General and National Spokesman described the move as unjustifiable.
The Igbo socio-political group noted that since its inception, the Nigerian government has granted amnesty to over 2600 ex-combatants, yet not a single Igbo ex-combatant has been allowed to benefit.
Also describing the exclusion of Ndigbo from national reconciliation and rehabilitation efforts as not only offensive but also a clear act of marginalisation.
The group further called on President Bola Tinubu to, as a matter of urgency, intervene and end the injustice against the Igbo race.
“While we, in the spirit of constructive dialogue, commend the Federal Government for its amnesty initiatives extended to 700 repented Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists, predominantly from the northern regions, we must ask: why does the Federal Government afford such generous attention to reintegrating over 700 terrorists, while denying the same opportunity to 1443 repented Biafra Agitators and Igbo militants?
“The Nigerian people, especially the Igbo, are entitled to demand an explanation for this glaring disparity. Why is the Federal Government’s De-Radicalisation, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration (DRR) Programme seemingly designed to benefit northern terrorists exclusively, while Southern Nigerian militants—particularly the 1443 repented Biafra Agitators—are intentionally excluded?” Ohanaeze queried.
Also acknowledging FG efforts towards the rehabilitation of former terrorists, the organisation said the failure to incorporate repented militants from the Southeast undermines the broader goals of national unity, peace, and security.
“We strongly urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser to the President, to urgently address this matter and rectify the gross oversight in national policy.
“It is unconscionable for the Southeast and the entire Igbo nation to be excluded from all Federal Government Amnesty Programmes, as well as from the recruitment initiatives for the National Forest Guards.
“This exclusion is not only a betrayal of the principles of justice and equity but also an affront to the many Igbo families affected by the ongoing violence and insecurity resulting from these misguided policies,” it added.