By KEMI KASUMU
Wednesday was a day in Nigeria, when patriotic Nigerians made strong representation and bold pronouncements against tactics of some sympathisers of terrorists, who try to make evil praiseworthy.
It happened outside the premises of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, where some traditional rulers and other supporters from South East came in solidarity with leader of terrorist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, who is on trial for treason and acts of terrorism.
As if the pro-Nigeria group had premonition about plans by the pro-terrorism elements to stage the protest when Kanu would be brought to continue his trial in court on Wednesday, they were right fully and conspicuously on ground with necessary instruments of protest including coffins and placards with inscriptions , “Nnamdi Kanu killed our security officers” among others.
Agents of insecurity namely kidnap, yahoo plus and other criminalities have tended to garner support from people such as the media and publicity to make their ‘shameful behaviours’ look like virtues. In doing this they enlisted the support of some media practitioners and lawyers, who have given prominence to their terrorism and underplay efforts of state and its security agencies to cut short their evils against the society.
Photographs from the development, as produced by BBC and other sources, have been made available in this report.
At the Abuja court Wednesday, as the pro-IPOB set out for their protest, the counter readily cut them to size rolling out all that were needed including the coffins and placards against Kanu and his terrorist group that has been responsible for the killings and destructions of public infrastructures in the South East region of the country.
The pro-Nigeria group, carrying placards with different inscriptions, confronted the pro-IPOB group while they were addressing pressmen.
IPOB, like Boko Haram, has been declared a terrorist organisation by competent court in Nigeria. Sadly, whereas in Northern Nigeria, all hands have been on the deck in collaboration with the Federal Government to end Boko Haram inflicted insecurity, some members of the South East region have publicly approved insecurity and other terrorism acts displayed against the state, its security agents and other innocent citizens.
On Wednesday, supporters of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, while trying to gain access into the court premises, were confronted by the pro-Nigeria group of protesters, who accused them of supporting terrorism against the country and innocent people of Nigeria.
The DEFENDER gathered that the supporters of Kanu addressed journalists outside the court, accusing the government of what they alleged as injustice in his trial, although popular opinions have argued that terrorists have no rights over the state whatsoever except they repent.
They accused the Federal Government of conducting trial in secrecy of Kanu who had jumped bail and had since then used ordered the huge killings and committed other terrors in the South East, before his eventual re-arrest and extradition to Nigeria.
They also accused the government of barring foreign lawyer, who is said not to be eligible to practice in Nigeria, and some of his supporters from the court.
But they were countered by the pro-Nigeria group, bearing all the instruments of protest, who charged at the pro-IPOB group while Mr Kanu’s supporters were addressing journalists.
The pro-Nigeria protesters, wielding their placards with inscriptions such as, “We must give peace a chance,” “IPOB is a terrorist organization,” “Respect your country Nigeria,” “No bail for terrorists,” “Justice for innocent Nigerians,” the pro-Nigeria group hit the pro-IPOB group.
Muhammed Hassan, who identified himself as the President of One Nigeria Group, a group countering the pro-Nigeria group, reportedly said intention of his group for the rally against pro-IPOB group at the court was to demonstrate their commitment and love for Nigeria.
“We are here to follow the court proceedings of the dangerous and terrorist group called IPOB and to tell them that the unity of this country is non-negotiable.
“We are saying no to insurgency, Boko-Haram, IPOB attacks. No to sit-at-home, it is killing our brothers in the South-east. They are sitting at home against their will in fear of IPOB attacks,” Mr Hassan, in his 40s, told this reporter.
When asked to comment on the allegations made by Kanu’s lawyer and some of his supporters, including traditional rulers who came to witness the court hearing, the pro-Nigeria group president argued that the presence of the former “may be to intimidate the judges”.
He added that the evidence against Kanu causing disunity in the country was overwhelming and he must face justice.
“You have heard him cause mayhem in this country and we won’t allow it. He has a lawyer inside. There is nowhere in the world where you will be on trial without your lawyer, that won’t be a trial. Two of Kanu’s lawyers are inside the court,” Mr Hassan, flanked by members of the group, argued.
Recall that Kanu’s trial was adjourned because his legal team walked out on the judge in protest against the refusal of the Department of State Services (DSS) to allow an American lawyer to enter the courtroom.
Hassan also dismissed the possibility of being sponsored by anyone to stage the Wednesday rally against Kanu’s group.
While the shouting match between the groups was ongoing, the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, inside the courtroom, adjourned the trial of the detained terrorist leader till January 19, 2022duevto the attitude of Kanu’s lawyers, who walked out on her.
