Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has asked the Nigerian government to protect the Igbos in the “Yoruba” states, following threats against Ndigbo in Lagos and other South-West states.
The demand followed calls for the forced relocation of Igbo people from Lagos and other South-West states, which trended on social media platform X under the hashtag “#IgboMustGo“
Prior to the appeal, the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had condemned the threat.
He called on the Tinubu-led Federal Government to arrest and prosecute promoters of genocidal threats against the Igbos living and earning their livelihoods in Lagos in particular and the South-West in general.
Taking to his X page, the former Vice President tweeted, “I call on the Nigerian government and relevant authorities to take immediate and strong action against those inciting such hatred and division. It is imperative to investigate, arrest, and prosecute individuals promoting ethnic discrimination and violence.
“The rule of law must prevail, and those found guilty of incitement should face the full extent of legal consequences.”
Also addressing the threat via a statement on Thursday night, 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 dire consequences.
Ohanaeze, in the statement titled ‘Enough is Enough’, vowed that Ndigbo would follow up with commensurate reaction should there be any attack on them in any part of the country.
He went on to say people of the South-East had kept quiet for so long, hence endless unprovoked attacks on the Igbo people in other parts of the country.
“We want to equivocally declare today that Ndigbo are not cowards; our forefathers were not cowards; they were brave and so are we.
“We warn those fanning this embers of discord not to take the calmness of the lion for weakness; we are not afraid and shouldn’t be pushed to the wall by faceless miscreants.
“Any attack on Ndigbo by anybody will be visited with an unimaginable revenge. We are not second class citizens of this country. No one is more Nigerian than the Igbos.
“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,” he said.
The Ohanaeze Youth President further tasked security agencies to immediately arrest those who originated what he called “genocidal threats against Ndigbo”.
“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 stated.
Okwu also re-echoed his call on Ndigbo not to participate in the ongoing protest, maintaining his earlier stand that President Bola Tinubu government was on the right track and should be given more time.
“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,” he further stated.
