Python Dance: Ohanaeze Ndigbo Cancels Annual Celebration to mourn IPOB Members Killed by soldiers

Photo credit: Mike Asukwo

Following the recent killings of unarmed IPOB members under the leadership of Nnamdi Kanu, Ohaneze Ndigbo group in Bayelsa state have declared they would not celebrate the annual Igbo-Day celebration.

The body of the Igbos in a press conference in Yenagoa said they would rather stay in their homes to pray and mourn their brothers and sisters being allegedly killed by the Nigerian military via operation "Python Dance II".

President of the group,  Maurice Chinedu Amaku, in a statement, said the decision to dedicate the celebration to prayers was reached, national leaders.

"In line with the resolution of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide and Ohanaeze Ndigbo Bayelsa state, this year's Igbo day celebration will be aimed at committing the challenges of  the Igbos  to God for divine intervention", the statement said.

Also speaking, a Special Assistant to the Governor of Bayelsa state on Non-indigenes, Mr. Sunny Chukwueze who also signed the press statement, said "what are we celebrating? We will stay in our various homes to pray to God and mourn for our people who have been murdered".

The group called on all its members in the state to remain indoors come 29th of September, 2017, be in the mood of sober reflection and pray for the peace and unity of the Igbos and Nigeria in general.