By Charles Igbo
IMSG, IPOB, Senator React● Group issues ultimatum, threatens activation of Citizens Arrest
Reactions to the razing of the multi-billion National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Centre, Nsu, Ehime Mbano Local Government Area, have been coming like claps of thunder.
On the eve of Nigeria’s 64th Independence, arsonists, in their numbers invaded the Complex which included a Skill Acquisition Centre, and razed it down. With that came job losses. But worse, the fate of 200 students at the Study Centre now hangs in the balance. They have nowhere to continue their studies.
The arsonists did not stop at that, they proceeded to the country home of Frank Ibezim the immediate past Senator, Okigwe Senatorial Zone and razed it. Still not satisfied, they descended on the country home of his younger brother, identified as Michael, and razed it.
The former Senator is lucky. It could have been worse, for, according to reports, he was in the house when the arsonists struck. What if they had seen him?, people are now asking.
This sad incident began with Ibezim’s visit to the NOUN Centre, accompanied by the Federal Commissioner for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, as well as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. Why Ibezim chose to go there with the visitors for an inspection is a story for another day. He is no longer the Senator for the Zone. So, why? Many speculations. For now, however, it is okay to make do with the that he did because the project was accomplished during his tenure as Senator.
Ibezim and the visitors did not go the NOUN Centre quietly. They had the Media in tow. One was the Lagos-based Television Continental, TVC, which Correspondent gave a good coverage. But it was a coverage that achieved the opposite, for most of the report focused on Internally Displaced Persons, perhaps because a Federal Commissioner in charge of refugees was present. The video shown with the story was that of Displaced Persons in the North. That, alone, struck a wrong chord and a red flag was raised. It was given an interpretation which turned out to be wrong, and was publicized in the Social Media – Whatsaap platform especially, by a social critic and “pathological hater” of the Imo State Government, Chinonso Uba, popular as Nonsonkwa. His post about the Government of Imo State providing accommodation for Displaced Persons of Fulani origin, and terrorists to be imported from the North went viral. He urged action by youths. And, from across the Globe, the anger of South Easterners, especially, those of Imo State origin, rose to high heavens.
Taken aback by the turn of events, especially, as the visit by Senator Ibezim and company had nothing to do with the State Government, as the projects were Federal Government’s, the Imo State Government issued a statement and explained that there was no such thing as conniving with the Federal Government or anybody to establish an IDP Centre for the Fulanis in the State. The statement, signed by the Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, drew attention to what he described as Nonsonkwa’s deliberate mischief to destabilize the State Government.
Said the Government:
“The purveyor of the disinformation, Mr Chinonso Uba, (alias Nonsonkwa) is a notorious propagandist who had severally dished out seditious materials from his infamous hate speech gospel ministry to set the nation on fire. He deliberately twisted the news from the Refugees Commission to incite Ndigbo against other Nigerians.”
Emelumba wondered why Uba has not been arrested over his widely circulated call on the Igbo to rise against other Nigerians. He noted that by feeding the people with biased information, Uba was laying the ground for a large scale insurrection against the Federal Government.
Seeing that his visit and tour of the complex has been mischievously twisted, Senator Ibezim, also, issued a statement, and explained that there was nothing like an IDP for Fulanis or anybody.
In a personally signed statement, Ibezim said:
“I feel compelled, given our shared commitment and purpose, to clarify some misconceptions stemming from TVC’s news coverage of my recent visit to the NOUN Nsu Study Centre. I was accompanied by the Federal Commissioner for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons, as well as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
“The suggestion that there are plans to settle refugees or IDPs at the NOUN Nsu Centre is entirely false. Such claims are the result of mischief-makers distorting my genuine intentions.”
He explained that the “NOUN Nsu Centre is a Federal Institution with over 200 students currently enrolled. The visit was to assess the center’s facilities for potential skills training programs.”
He, also, disclosed that some other Government agencies had conducted similar assessments for potential training opportunities at the Center.
He acknowledged that the visiting agency’s name includes the word “refugees,” but clarified that their mission extended beyond refugee resettlement.
“The Agency aims to provide skill acquisition programs for local communities. There are no plans to resettle refugees or IDPs at the NOUN Nsu Centre.
“I will never support such a plan. Our focus is on providing skill training for vulnerable youth in the South East.”
However, neither the State Government’s explanation, nor Ibezim’s clarification, stopped the inexplicable tragedy that followed. For,
in the night of September 30, 2024, the NOUN Centre, Ibezim’s country home, and that of his brother were set ablaze. They were up in flames.
Opinion as to what triggered such reaction is divided. While some people blame it on the TVC report which focused on refugees accompanied by a video of IDP’s from the North, not a few people put the blame squarely on misinformation which was given wings to fly by Nonsonkwa’s post and audio recording which went viral on Whatsaap.
Nothing proves both positions than the reaction of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, and that of Imo Political Awareness Group, IPAG.
In a strongly worded statement signed by its Spokesperson, Emma Powerful, IPOB bought the idea that the Federal Government plans to establish an IDP Centre in Imo State, and dismissed the explanation of a skill acquisition centre as a smokescreen. “This smokescreen project is part of an elaborate ominous plan by the Fulani and the Nigerian Government to dispossess us of our ancestral land and heritage and it will not work”, the statement noted.
Part of its comprehensive statement reads:
“They have tried all forms of land grabbing technics with different names such as RUGA, and these all failed. Now they want to import so called displaced persons from the Northern Nigerian a distance of thousands of kilometres away from their locality and homeland into Imo State in Biafraland. These evil people never set up Skills acquisition programs for the millions of jobless youths in our land but have the evil mind to even consider bringing in Boko Haram foot soldiers into Biafraland in the name of skills acquisition for internally displaced persons.
“IPOB will stop at nothing to ensure that the natural demography, safety, and security of Biafrans are not compromised using this state sponsored covert project in the name of IDP camp Skills acquisition center. Take the IDP camp or center to the North where it is needed. Ndigbo does not have internally displaced persons clamoring for resettlement. We take care of our own.
But IPAG dismissed the interpretation of the visit as mischief meant to destabilize tye State, and which result is the razing of the NOUN Centre and the country homes of the Ibezims. It put the blame of the misinformation on Nonsonkwa, and asked for his arrest. “Nonsonkwa’s reckless and deceitful campaign to spread fear and incite violence has now culminated in an attack on a key educational institution in our State. His call on the youths of Ehime Mbano to rise up and take up arms and fight in resistance to the fictitious plot to resettle terrorists in their land has now been heeded. Nonsonkwa has now actualized his motive, namely: to set Ehime Mbano and, by extension, Imo State on fire.”
IPAG threatened to activate Citizen’s arrest against him if he was not arrested within 48 hours.
Part of the statement reads:
“The Imo Political Awareness Group (IPAG) vehemently condemns the recent act of arson committed at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) study center in Nsu, Ehime Mbano LGA. This despicable attack, which occurred under the cover of darkness as everyone was asleep, follows the irresponsible and inflammatory statements made by Comrade Chinonso Uba, popularly known as Nonsonkwa, a notorious and anti-government radio rabble-rouser.
“Nonsonkwa’s reckless and deceitful campaign to spread fear and incite violence has now culminated in an attack on a key educational institution in our state. His call on the youths of Ehime Mbano to rise up, take up arms, and fight in resistance to the fictitious plot to resettle terrorists in their land has now been heeded. Nonsonkwa has now actualized his motive, namely: to set Ehime Mbano and, by extension, Imo State on fire.
“It must be stated in unequivocal terms that Nonsonkwa’s baseless narrative, claiming that the Imo State Government had planned to convert the NOUN study center into an IDP camp for Boko Haram terrorists from Northern Nigeria, was nothing more than a calculated lie designed to sow discord, panic and unrest among the peace-loving people of Ehime Mbano LGA and Imo State.
“Despite the prompt and clear refutations by the Imo State Commissioner for Information, Strategy and Orientation, Hon. Declan Emelumba, and the former Senator of Okigwe Zone, Frank Ibezim, Nonsonkwa persisted in his falsehoods. His refusal to retract the lie or apologize for his inflammatory rhetoric, instead choosing to insult those who sought to clarify the truth, shows a gross disregard for the peace and security of Imo State.
“For us as IPAG, the burning of the NOUN study center is a direct consequence of Nonsonkwa’s incitement. His reckless disregard for the truth and his callous manipulation of public sentiment make him an instigator of violence. This heinous crime is not just an attack on an educational institution but an assault on the future of our youth and the development of Imo State. We must not allow such dangerous actors to destabilize our state through lies and lawlessness.
“IPAG, therefore, demands the immediate arrest and prosecution of Nonsonkwa. He must be held accountable for his role in inciting this criminal act. His actions threaten the very fabric of our society, and no one who seeks to tear down our state through falsehoods and violence should be allowed to roam free. We shall be left with the option of activating citizen’s arrest against Nonsonkwa if the police and other law enforcement agencies do not act very fast to bring him to justice. The security agencies must now act swiftly in apprehending Nonsonkwa and any of his accomplices who contributed to this vile act.
“We also urge all well-meaning citizens of Imo State to stand firm against those who seek to disrupt our peace, incite violence and destroy the progress we have worked hard to achieve.
“This incident is a clear demonstration of the dangerous power of disinformation and the grave consequences it can have when left unchecked. We urge the media, civil society and all relevant authorities to remain vigilant and ensure that those who use their platforms to spread lies are exposed and held accountable.”
The statement was signed by its Secretary, Comrade Egbuna Egbuna.
But the question some people are asking is: Where were security agencies? Having listened to Nonsonkwa’s audio interpretation and message posted on Whatsaap, they are of the opinion that Security Agencies should have been proactive and protected the NOUN Centre and fortified security around Senator Ibezim.
The State Police Command swore after the act to apprehend the perpetrators of the arson. True to its words, on Wednesday, the Command said it has arrested eight of the suspects.
Yet, the questions remain: Who will rebuild the NOUN Centre? Will the Federal Government do so? And what is the fate of the 200 students studying at the Centre?
