Killings: Ohanaeze Announces Igbo Day Of Mourning

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, has announced that its previously scheduled Igbo Day event has been canceled.

The Ohanaeze, led by Chief Chidi Ibeh, made the announcement in a statement signed by Comrade Temple Chika, the organization’s National Publicity Secretary.

He announced that the event will be replaced with the “IGBO DAY OF MOURNING,” which would have the theme “Ozoemena.”

According to NEWS DIRECT, Igbo Day is observed every year on September 29th.

This year’s edition, however, will not take place, according to Ohanaeze.

“This is to alert all Igbos both at home and in diaspora of the cancellation of the 2021 IGBO DAY set previously to be held in Enugu and Awka, Anambra State, respectively, on September 29th, 2021,” the Ibeh-led Ohanaeze said in a statement.

“We urge Ndigbo to observe the WORLD IGBO DAY OF MORNING in remembrance of all IGBO MARTYRS both at home and diaspora, whose lives were cut short at their prime age during security operations, herdsmen, Obigbo/ Orlu massacres, killings in the North by Boko Haram and banditry. The mood of Ndigbo nowadays depicts mourning both traditionally and religiously.

“Consequently, there will be no fanfare, no jubilation, and acrobatic cultural displays as obtained from the annual IGBO DAY CELEBRATIONS in the past few years.”

It said in the statement that “there are attempts to commit ethnic cleansing in the name of fighting against the IPOB.

“The ongoing secret killings across Igboland must stop. God will restore peace and security across Igboland as we openly mourn.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo demands the unconditional release of bodies from mortuaries (especially in Imo State) of Igbos wrongly killed as suspected IPOB members to their various families for burials.”