ARREST OF ACTOR AGWU BY NIG MILITARY IS STUPID AND TACTLESS~ EMPEROR ADEOLA SOETAN – Rights Monitors
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Senior Nigerian citizen has described the latest action of the Nigeria military on the arrest of a Nollywood actor, Chiwetalu Agu as stupid and tactless. Among several other Nigerians that condemned the action of the military, Comrade Adeola Soetan, popularly known as “Emperor of Olumo Republic” among members of the Nigeria Civil Society Organizations, maintained this position in his recent address titled “Drama: Biafra History on the Road”.
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It reads in parts:
“War is also about history. If you win a war, you can’t win its history, the experience of the people involved and their Interpretations of events. Biafra was defeated but its history can’t be defeated because history lives beyond the victors and the vanquished. So, fighting Biafran history on the streets is a waste of time and energy because history will always win and continue to haunt.
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The Nigeria Army is very stupid and tactless to have arrested Actor Ugwu in his rising sun regalia on the street of Igbo land while distributing bread to the poor. His arrest and brutalisstion further enlivened the history of Biafra in the minds of the citizens in particular the Igbos, and doing that before the young Igbos whose parents and grandparents were victims of the senseless civil war was more stupid because children would ask question why arresting an armless man with bread not bullet like IPOB? And parents must explain thereby bringing Biafra history alive again that the civil was not just about killing the recalcitrant armed Biafran soldiers and militia, it was also about killing and brutalisstion of armless civilians in search of bread /food to eat during the war. And senselessly the army has just reenacted that sordid drama scripted by the actor on the street of Igbo land the theatre of Biafran war, blood, sorrow and generational tears.
I ask myself, what if the actor decides to produce a documentary or drama about Biafra tomorrow? The film will be banned, all the actors including non Igbo killed or perpetually detained and the cinema will be demolished?
The military need to engage brilliant social psychologists and other related professionals for assistance in any crisis of nationhood its troops are engaged.
You can kill the senseless murderous bandits, but you can’t win or kill the history that gave birth to genuine Biafra agitators and the criminal bandits. . A national referendum will resolve many of these crisis which the Buhari regime wants to settle with bullets. It won’t work and it can never because it has not worked before”.
The Nigeria military has however denied torture or any from of maltreatment on Agwu in their custody and a detailed defence was presented to the public on the reason for the arrest.
This was contained In a recent statement released on 7th of October, 2021 and signed by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu titled “TROOPS ARREST CHIWETALU AGU WHILE SOLICITING SUPPORT FOR PROSCRIBED IPOB”
“Troops of Nigerian Army(NA) have arrested one Chiwetalu Agu while inciting members of the public and soliciting for support for the proscribed Indegenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Dressed in a very well known attire of the proscribed group, Chiwetalu Agu was picked up for questioning while inciting members of the public to join the proscribed group.
Though he attempted puting up some resistance when troops made effort to take him into custody, he was not assaulted or subjected to brutalization.
“While the NA recognizes the inalienable rights of the citizenry to freedom of movement and expression as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is apparently a violation for any individual or group to incite the public to cause mayhem or break down of law and order. It is therefore pertinent to state that while exercising such freedoms, it must be done within the confines of the law, bearing in mind the imperative for peace, and national security.
“For the avoidance of doubt and emphasis, the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) remains proscribed . Therefore, any individual or group seen to be projecting and advancing the cause or activities of the group is viewed as brazenly challenging the constitutionality of Federal Republic of Nigeria. More worrisome, was the fact that considering the prevailing security situation of the region, coupled with the ongoing Exercise GOLDEN DAWN , his action could be a tacit endorsement and support for the proscribed group. We have all witnessed the activities of the group take a violent dimension in recent times.
“Chinwetalu Agu has clearly demonstrated uncharitable disposition to negate peace and security in the region, hence, he is taken into custody for preliminary investigation. It is important to once again place on record that the allegation that he was brutalized is false and should be disregarded accordingly.
“While the NA would not allow IPOB and its sponsors to hold the region captive and allow the security situation to degenerate, it is instructive to restate that national interest supercedes any parochial consideration. Individuals or groups who fan the embers of violence are warned to desist or face the consequences of their actions. The ongoing Exercises are on course and will rid the region of all forms of criminality.
“The peace loving and law abiding people of the South East are enjoined to please
go about their normal activities, as efforts are ongoing to bring perpetrators of violence to book. They are equally urged to continue to support the security agencies to restore normalcy to the region in furtherance of peace.”
The arrested movie veteran, Chiwetalu Agu in his words denied the military allegations and said that he simply bought ten thousands naira (#10,000) bread and decided to share it among the ordinary people on the street with no campaign, no demonstration nor inciting the people as alleged.
