The media report that “over 100 northerners were killed in the South-East last week” was dismissed as “a lie from the pit of hell” by the apex Igbo sociocultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
In a brief press release, Ohanaeze’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia, pleaded for the “alarmists” to be investigated in order to compel them to provide evidence of the outrageous claim.
The apex Igbo body urged security agencies to arrest those behind the false allegation and publication to substantiate their claims, stating that making such bogus and untenable allegations could set the country on fire and should not be treated lightly.
Also read: The statement that was made available to Vanguard read: “After doctors, mass exodus of teachers from Nigeria looms.” Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has been alerted to a front-page newspaper report on Friday that the Coordinator of the Northern Consensus Forum, Dr. Auwal Abdullahi Aliyu, and others have instructed commodity traders and truck drivers to avoid the Southeast of Nigeria due to the incessant killings of their members by members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), which is a criminal organization.
Due to the ongoing killing of northerners in the South East, they have declared a three-day warning strike.
“The statement that “not less than 100 northerners were murdered in the South-East within the last week” is the section of the report that is most troubling.
“First and foremost, the claim that “not less than 100 northerners were murdered in the South East within the last week” is a devil’s lie.
“The aforementioned Dr. Aliyu has not been in the picture among the Northern leaders who reside in the South East, so he is unable to speak on the relationship between Northerners and South East residents.
“One begins to ponder the very motives of the one who issued such a false, fabricated, and devilish alarm.
“The damage done to Nigeria’s image among the committee of nations by the 100 deaths in a week will be revealed by reflection.
“And many additional questions that typically will compel the security agents to question the aforementioned Coordinator of the Northern Consensus Forum, Dr. Auwal Abdullahi Aliyu, and adequate measures taken to serve as a deterrent to other alarmists,” the statement reads.
Ohanaeze said it would be unfair to use unfounded claims as an excuse, despite the fact that there have been unrest in the South-East and other parts of the country as well.
“The resolute efforts of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, clergy, traditional rulers, and indeed all the well-intentioned Igbo regarding the negative effects of youth unrest in the South-East are undeniable.
“In that trepidation, we have repeatedly urged Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, to assist us by adopting a political solution to the agitations of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
“We note with trouble, that different types of frailty, for example, banditry, capturing, herders-ranchers conflict, and so on have come to characterize our day to day routines. We believe that the IPOB are a known group that can be negotiated out of the current socioeconomic quagmire, despite the fact that some aspects of the insecurity in Nigeria are unclear.
Ohanaeze also said that the publication was politically motivated and might have been written about Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, who is getting more and more popular and accepted across the country.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the in question alarmist publication is politically motivated to instill distrust between the North and South.
Igbo friendliness, hospitality, and cosmopolitanism have frequently found profound expressions in diverse interethnic relations in Nigeria, and it is essential to inform the “new breed” chauvinists of this.
For instance, in 1952, Mallam Umaru Altine, a Fulani from the Sokoto Caliphate, was elected as the first Mayor of the City of Enugu, the Igbo Nation’s heartbeat. He ran for a second term, won it, and held office until 1958.
Ohanaeze reiterated his statement that “the incessant sit-at-home in the South-East is an ill wind that blows nobody any good” while urging northerners to maintain their friendly relationship with the Igbo.