Ohanaeze Faction Appeals to Tinubu for Amnesty Extension to Repented Igbo Militants
In a significant development, a faction of the prominent Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has made a fervent plea to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The group is urging the federal government to extend its amnesty program to encompass 1440 repented Igbo militants, arguing that their current exclusion represents a grave injustice and deliberate marginalization.
Exclusion from Rehabilitation Programs
This appeal comes in the wake of the federal government's recent decision to grant amnesty to over 700 repented Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists. The Ohanaeze faction, through its Deputy President General, Mazi Nnamdi Isiguzoro, expressed deep concern that not a single Igbo ex-combatant has been allowed to benefit from the De-Radicalisation, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration (DRR) Programme since its inception.
"Since its establishment, more than 2600 former combatants have successfully passed through this comprehensive rehabilitation program," Isiguzoro stated in a statement obtained by Guardian in Abakaliki. "Yet, astonishingly, not one Igbo ex-combatant has been permitted to participate. This exclusion from national reconciliation and rehabilitation efforts is not only deliberate and offensive but constitutes a clear act of marginalization against the Igbo people."
Call for Presidential Intervention
The faction is now calling on President Tinubu to urgently intervene and rectify what they describe as a glaring injustice. They emphasize that the Nigerian people, particularly the Igbo community, deserve a comprehensive explanation for this apparent disparity in treatment.
"Ohanaeze Ndigbo is compelled to raise an urgent and forceful objection to the deliberate and unjustifiable exclusion of 1443 repented Former Biafran Agitators and Igbo militants from the Federal Government's Amnesty programme under the military's Operation Safe Corridor," Isiguzoro declared.
While acknowledging and commending the federal government's amnesty initiatives for northern terrorists, the faction poses critical questions about the equitable distribution of such programs across Nigeria's diverse regions.
Regional Tensions and National Unity
The statement further highlights how this exclusion undermines broader national objectives. "The failure to incorporate repented militants from the Southeast region directly undermines the fundamental goals of national unity, peace, and security," Isiguzoro emphasized. "This marginalization of Ndigbo must not be allowed to continue, as it only exacerbates existing regional tensions and perpetuates feelings of exclusion and alienation among the Igbo population."
The faction insists that the inclusion of these 1443 individuals—drawn from the seven Igbo-speaking states, including Anioma in Delta State and Ikwerre in Rivers State—is non-negotiable for achieving lasting peace.
Broader Demands for Inclusivity
Beyond the immediate amnesty request, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has expanded its demands to include all prisoners of conscience in any future amnesty arrangements. Specifically, they mention Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, emphasizing that only through such inclusive measures can Nigeria achieve genuine and sustainable peace and stability.
The faction warns that continued exclusion risks perpetuating a dangerous cycle of unrest and disenchantment that ultimately benefits no one in the Nigerian polity. They stress that the time for decisive action is now, calling on President Tinubu to make an unequivocal statement on this critical issue and direct the immediate inclusion of Igbo militants in the amnesty program.
Path Forward for National Healing
In their concluding remarks, the Ohanaeze faction appeals to the federal government to abandon what they characterize as a policy of exclusion. Instead, they advocate for a more inclusive approach that truly reflects the spirit of national unity and collective progress.
"The inclusion of Igbo militants in the amnesty programme is not merely a matter of justice—it represents a critical step toward restoring peace and healing the wounds of a divided nation," the statement concludes, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive national reconciliation that leaves no region behind.
