By Vera Chinonso Aliyu and Ishola Adeleke, YeyeNews.com, October 9, 2021
Banks and other public facilities in the southeast of Nigeria has said that they have no choice but to lower the national flag on their premises in compliance with the IPOB order because even security agencies did the same in their compounds. A staff of one of the old generation banks told a YeyeNews.com reporter that they were advised to drop their flags by security agents attached to protect them. “Nobody will defend this place if they come for us,” the staff quoted a security agent attached to his bank. “Even our colleagues in the station have resolved to take the Flag down for laundry on October 1st. The headquarters have already approved the request. It is a tactical move.”
YeyeNews.com correspondent learned from an official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in Enugu that decision to lower the flag was taken in a joint security meeting earlier in the week. “It was a collective decision that all commands should take down their flags for laundry on that day. It is part of measures to safeguard the immediate community. We don’t want any collateral damage.”
A traditional ruler in Awka has praised the security agencies for making the safety of the community a priority in their decision to comply with IPOB. “We know the security agencies have what it takes to neutralize the members of the proscribed group, but they are just complying to protect us from possible stray bullets. You heard of how stray bullet killed a student in Nnewi during an engagement between security agents and IPOB fighters. If that security facility had removed their flags that innocent student will still be alive today. Wisdom is profitable”.
An anonymous source in the IPOB Directorate of State assured YeyeNews.com reporter that everything they are doing is for the benefit of the Southeast. “They won’t understand but the truth is we are sacrificing everything for their wellbeing. Those who died during the process will get their full reward in due cause. Though we sympathize with the victims of this violence, but we won’t hesitate to unleash more. That’s the only way we can command their respect and make them comply with our directives.”
