I Am Hale And Hearty – Says Ekweremadu After Surviving Mob Attack In Germany

Ike Ekweremadu, former Deputy Senate President on Saturday survived a mob action in Nuremberg, Germany as a group of Nigerians suspected to be members of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), invaded an event he attended.

IPOB confirmed the attack after it shared a video of the assault on its Facebook page, Radio Biafra.

“Senator Ike Ekwere Mmadu escaped being lynched by frustrated IPOB family members in Germany. He was seriously questioned and accused of conspiring with Nigeria government in proscribing and killing of hundreds of unarmed IPOB family members in Nigeria”, Radio Biafra wrote in the page.

Report says police helped Ekweremadu to escaped from being lynched as he was hurriedly whisked away from the scene.

But Ekweremadu, in a message forwarded to newsmen by Uche Anichukwu, his media aide, confirmed that it was actually some members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), that attacked him in Nuremberg, Germany.

According to Uche Anichukwu, in the statement released on behalf of his principal, the attack occurred during the annual cultural festival of the Ndigbo, apex social-cultural group in the south-east.

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Following the incident, Ekweremadu assured Ndigbo and his supporters across the nation that he was safe.

“I attended the Second Annual Cultural Festival and Convention organised by Ndi-Igbo Germany in Nurnberg today where I was billed to give a keynote address along with the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, who, however could not make it eventually,” he said in the statement.

“I was given a resounding welcome by Ndigbo in Germany and everything went smoothly until some men, who identified themselves as IPOB members stormed the venue and began to complain about the killings in the South East, stressing that there would be no Igbo event at the venue.

“I tried to engage them, but when they became unruly, I had to leave the venue. The organisers also invited the police and I was accompanied out of the venue.

“Much as I am disappointed in their conduct, especially as I am one of the persons who have spoken up on justice for Ndigbo, the Python Dance, judicial killings in Igbo land and elsewhere both on the floor of the Senate and in my written and personal engagements with the Presidency as well as rallied the South East Senate Caucus to secure Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s release with Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe taking him on bail to douse tension in the South East, I nevertheless do not hold this to heart against them, for they know not what they do.

“I have received thousands of solidarity calls and messages from well meaning Ndigbo. I want to assure them that I am hale and hearty. I have also spoken with the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar”.

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Reacting to the incident, Tuggar described the attack as unfortunate, stating that the embassy will look into the matter.

“The incident involving Sen Ekweremadu at Nuremberg Germany is most unfortunate,” the ambassador said.

“He is ok and I have assured him the Embassy will look into the matter thoroughly. Overwhelming majority of Nigerians in Germany are disciplined and law abiding and the incident didn’t stop the event.”