According to the group known as the South-East National Assembly Caucus, the panel was set up to find a lasting solution to the insecurity in the region as pertaining to Biafra agitation.
The federal lawmakers from the South-East region have inaugurated a committee to probe the case of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in the detention of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June.
According to the group known as the South-East National Assembly Caucus, the panel was set up to find a lasting solution to the insecurity in the region as pertaining to Biafra agitation.
The lawmakers, emerging from a meeting on Wednesday to review the deteriorating security condition in the South-East region, also resolved to negotiate Kanu's case with the Nigerian government.
A statement released to journalists read in part, “We elaborately discussed the issue of Mazi Nnamdi and resolved to intervene.
“To this end we resolved to set up a committee to constructively interface with relevant stakeholders, the Federal Government and its relevant agencies towards finding a political solution. We will keep Ndigbo abreast of developments in regard.”
The statement continued, “The South East Caucus of the National Assembly held an extraordinary session on Wednesday, September 15, 2021, to review developments in the South East, particularly (a) The security situation in the region vis-à-vis the sit-at-home orders and (b) The detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“Rising from the meeting, the Caucus: Expressed solidarity with our people of the South East over the marginalisation of the region in the scheme of things within the Nigerian commonwealth. The Caucus feels the pains of our people and their quest for equity, justice, and protection of their lives and property in every part of the country.
"The Caucus, therefore, resolved to continue to fight for a level-playing ground and an enabling federal system where Ndigbo are able to develop their homeland at their own pace and equally pursue their happiness and actaulise their enormous potential in every part of the country, unmolested."
The lawmakers also spoke on the sit-at-home exercises, insisting they have adverse effects on their people than the good they are meant to achieve.
The statement read partly, "(The Caucus) reviewed the sit-at-home orders by the IPOB and the mayhem some nefarious elements have seized the opportunity to visit on the lives, properties, and psyche of our people. The Caucus equally reviewed and rued the incalculable economic losses and hardships these have brought upon our region.
“Resolved to condemn in strongest terms the disruption of the ongoing Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination in some parts of the South East, particularly the incident at Comprehensive Secondary School, Nkume, Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, where the English examination organised by the West Africa Examination Council, WAEC, on Monday, September 13, 2021, was ruthlessly scuttled by armed men, who chased away the students, teachers, and examiners before setting ablaze motorcycles belonging to the teachers.
“This is certainly not who we are as a people. On the contrary, we are a people, who have always cherished and encouraged learning from the ages. We are a people that fully appreciate the place of education in the liberation and enlightenment of the human mind and the socio-economic and political emancipation of a people.”
The Federal lawmakers put their party affiliations aside and also condemned the gruesome killing of people in their region.
“Equally condemned in strongest terms the incessant killings in the South East. This must stop immediately. We call on the security agencies to unravel the culprits behind these wicked acts and ensure that they are brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others.”
“Noted with delight that IPOB has called off the Monday sit-at-home order and resolved to ensure that nobody uses them as facades to bring ruination on Igbo land.
“Call on our people to go about their lawful businesses and enjoin our governors and the security agencies to rebuild confidence in our people by not only ensuring the security of their lives and properties, but also ensuring that our people feel safe as they undertake their legitimate businesses,” the statement read further.