The Igbo Women Assembly (IWA) has called for the withdrawal of soldiers from checkpoints while urging the South-East Governors’ Forum to ensure the restoration the local vigilante groups to tackle insecurity in the region.
IWA National President, Nkechi Chimezie, made the call on Tuesday, while speaking with newsmen in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, after the launch of the Abia chapter of the group.
She that the soldiers deployed at the checkpoints often harass Igbo youths, forcing them to leave the region in drove.
In her words: “We urge governors of the South-East to sit together and find a way to revive the vigilante groups we had before the coming of gunmen.
“We want the Federal Government to withdraw the military from our roads, they are harassing our youths, making them leave South-East in droves,”.
IWA further appealed to the Federal Government to release the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, unconditionally.
The group opined that Kanu’s release from incarceration would bring enduring peace to the South-East.
While launching the Abia chapter, the IWA president urged the women to come together to save Igbo culture and language and also contribute to the nation’s development.
According to her, IWA’s vision is to promote the cultural heritage and economic empowerment of Igbo women, while also contributing to the development of Igboland.
“Our mission is to promote a platform for Igbo women to come together, share ideas and support one another in our pursuit for economic, social and cultural development,” she said.
The Abia IWA Coordinator, Mrs Ijeoma Umunna, praised the president’s leadership qualities. She assured that the group, under her watch, would strive to achieve its goal in the state.
In a lecture, entitled “Reviving our Igbo Language and Cultural Heritage,” Prof. Nkechi Ahaike of the National Institute of Nigerian Languages, Aba, advised the women to teach their children Igbo culture and tradition.
In separate lectures and goodwill messages to the event, the speakers also urged all hands to be on deck to promote Igbo Language and tradition.
Credit: NPO
