By Hadiza Suleman
Those championing the calls for the eviction of Ndigbo from Lagos and other South-West states should be arrested and prosecuted.
The call was made by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide in a statement.
Our correspondent reports that some interests, under the hashtag #IgboMustGo on X, are demanding the forced eviction of Igbo people from Lagos and other South-west states. They claimed Ndigbo are protesting against President Bola Tinubu’s government.
Reacting, the national president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, warned that any attack on Ndigbo in any part of the country would come with severe consequences.
In the statement, entitled ‘Enough is Enough’, Ohanaeze vowed that Ndigbo would follow up with counter-actions should there be any attack on them in any part of the country.
He said, “We want to unequivocally declare today that Ndigbo are not cowards; our forefathers were not cowards; they were brave and so are we.
“For decades now, Ndigbo have borne the brunt of every crisis in this country; they have paid the price for every upheaval in the country.
“This is one of the major reasons we decided not to be part of the hardship protest or whatever they called it. We knew that the moment we identify with it, they will term it Igbo protest.
“Yet, the same enemies of Ndigbo, the same people who are lurking for the blood of the Igbo people are unrelenting.
“However, we want to sound this note of warning to them; ‘Enough is Enough’. Any attempt to spill the blood of an Igbo man or destroy their businesses and properties will be visited with equal retaliation.
“Those threats will be resisted; henceforth any attack on any Igbo man anywhere in those aforementioned areas must be revenged with every seriousness.
“We are one of the cardinal pillars of this country, so nobody should threaten the Igbo in this country any longer.
“We call on Ndigbo not to be afraid to reside anywhere of their choice in the country and do their businesses; they should not mind the useless threats by those who intend to set the country ablaze.”
The youth president charged security agencies to immediately arrest those who originated what he called “genocidal threats against Ndigbo”, adding that, “Should the security agents fail to arrest the perpetrators and instigators of war in Nigeria, we will be left with no option than to believe that they are part of the plan.
“We are also calling on the federal government to speak up on this matter; this should not be swept under the carpet. The Nigerian government should take quick measures to arrest those behind this genocidal plot.
“To restore the people’s confidence, the government should arrest and prosecute all the criminals making unguarded utterances on X, inciting Nigerians against each other.”
Okwu advised Ndigbo not to participate in the ongoing protests. According to him, “We reiterate our support for the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu government. Once again, we thank him for the South East Development Commission which was supposed to be in place since after the war to cater for the Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction mantra.
“We shall continue to advocate for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, additional states to be at par with other regions and correct imbalances on appointments in reflection of the federal character principles.”
