Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has stated that it is hightime the Nigerian government explore political solution in the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, just as he condemned the killing of five soldiers in Aba the Abia State capital on Thursday.
Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has been standing trial since he was abducted from Kenya by the Nigerian government in June 2021.
IPOB had on Thursday ordered a sit-at-home in Nigeria’s southeastern region to commemorate Biafrans who died in the Nigerian, Biafra civil war.
During the commemoration, five soldiers station at Obikabia Junction in the Obingwa Local Government Area of the state, were ambushed by gunmen.
The Defence Headquarters, Abuja, had vowed that the military would retaliate against the killing in a statement on Friday, accusing IPOB and its militant wing, Eastern Security Network of being responsible.
IPOB has since denied the responsibility.
Reacting in a statement on Friday via his x handle, Atiku condoled with the families of the affected soldiers.
The former Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 general elections, called on the federal government to explore political resolution to Kanu’s trial in other to end the crisis in the South East region.
He said “The violence that led to the killing of soldiers and civilians in Abia State on Thursday stands condemned. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those who may have lost a loved one.
“May their souls rest in peace. But even more profound is the impact of yesterday’s sit-at-home in the Southeast region of our country on students writing WAEC examinations.”
Atiku advised that security agencies should distill criminal elements from the legitimate agitators rather than blanket and generalisation of operations.
“The veil of the so-called unknown gunmen hiding under cover to unleash death and mayhem must be lifted to ensure that criminal elements are separated from legitimate agitators.
“To this end, without prejudice to the ongoing legal processes, I think the time has come to explore a political resolution to the Nnamdi Kanu and other associated issues.
“I believe that this will defuse the compressor cooker situation in the region. It will be a win-win for all parties.”
