Minister of Justice and AGF, Abubakar Malami SAN
‘Kanu hijacked #EndSARS protests in South East’ – AGF Malami, says IPOB/ESN behind destruction of govt properties, killing of Akunyili, Gulak
Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN, Friday alleged that pro-secession activist and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) group, Nnamdi Kanu, hijacked the EndSARS protest of last year, and using it unleash mayhem of Federal Government installations across the South East region.
Malami further disclosed that Kanu took advantage of the EndSARS protest last year to create mayhem that led to the death of security agents.
Addressing a press conference in his office, Malami also alleged that Kanu used the instruments of the IPOB as well as that of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) to destroy Federal Government facilities, including killing of security agents in the region.
“As you are aware, Nnamdi Kanu, the self-acclaimed leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been at the center of a subversive campaign against the Nigerian State.
“Despite the proscription of IPOB by the Federal Government, Nnamdi Kanu continued the subversive campaign, instigating and inciting broadcasts to direct members of the IPOB to launch attacks on government.
“The EndSARS protests of October 2020 played into the sinister plans of Nnamdi Kanu, whereby he seized the protests through subversive and inciting online broadcasts and actively commanded and directed attacks on security personnel and facilities.
“As a result of these broadcasts, members of IPOB attacked and killed security personnel and burnt down Police stations, Correctional centers, INEC offices, bus terminals, the Palace of Oba of Lagos, Banks, hospitals, shopping malls and vehicles, amongst others.”
Malami said a 24-member presidential committee set up in June 2021 and comprising the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), found that Nnamdi Kanu seized the 2020 EndSARS protests and ‘actively commanded and directed attacks on security personnel and facilities.’
“The committee finds as a fact, that consequent upon the instigating directives of Nnamdi Kanu, members of IPOB/ESN carried out massive attacks on democratic institutions especially INEC facilities with a view to hampering democratic process in Nigeria. These attacks that were carried out between October 2020 and June 2021 include the following.
“One hundred and seventy-five (175) security personnel were killed by IPOB/ESN, comprising one hundred and twenty-eight (128) Police men, thirty-seven (37) military personnel and ten (10) other security operatives.
“Killing of prominent Nigerians, (recently there were gruesome killings of traditional leaders: Obi 1 of Okwudor autonomous community, Eze E. Anayochukwu Durueburuo and Eze Sampson Osunwa of Ihebineowerre autonomous community, as well as, the killings of Chike Akunyili and eight others as well as the killing of Alhaji Ahmed Gulak on 30th May. 2021).
“That as a consequence of Nnamdi Kanu’s broadcasts, there were 19 attacks on INEC facilities that resulted in the destruction of offices as well as burning of 18 INEC logistical vehicles, several election materials, equipment and ICT gadgets in Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, CrossRiver, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo states.
“That 164 police stations and formations, including police headquarters, Owerri, Imo state were attacked by IPOB/ESN leading to the death of 128 policemen, 144 injured while 628 vehicles were destroyed.
“That 396 firearms and 17,738 ammunition were carted away during the IPOB/ESN attacks. That there were 3 IPOB/ESN attacks on the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), including the headquarters of NCoS, Owerri, Imo state where 1,841 inmates escaped. That the headquarters of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Umuahia, Abia state was also attacked by IPOB/ESN leading to the death of 1 officer”.
The Justice minister also told the media that Kanu had accomplices abroad, made up of ‘individuals and groups as well as state and non-state actors who are aiding and facilitating his campaign against the people and state of Nigeria.’
