The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, the youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has told Igbos living in the North to prepare to defend themselves against possi
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, the youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has told Igbos living in the North to prepare to defend themselves against possible attack by northerners. The National President of the OYC, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said the ultimatum issued to Igbo by the northern groups was a call to arms, and should be treated as such by security agencies.
“Igbo resident in the North should get ready to defend themselves in the event of any provocation and attack from the Arewa youths,” Isiguzoro said.
He noted that the development could lead to another civil war in the country.
The Ohanaeze youth leader said, “They are at it again and this is a sad reminder of the civil war. This is how it started as a joke and before we knew it, a coordinated and simultaneous attack was launched against the Igbos in the North.
“This is a sad development considering the efforts being made to unite this country. This is a sad commentary considering the sacrifices Igbos have made in this country. We, however, wish to state unequivocally that the Igbo are not cowards. We are not afraid of Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, Yerima Shettima and their cohorts. Ndigbo want to make it categorically clear that we are ready for them. We cannot be intimidated by their ranting.”
Also, the Eric Omare-led faction of the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide described the threat by northern youths as baseless and senseless. Omara said that there was absolutely nothing wrong in the Igbo agitation for self-determination. The factional IYC President added, “Therefore, the Igbo agitation for Biafra cannot justify the demand to move out of northern Nigeria.
“We believe there are criminally-minded persons who want to hide under the umbrella of speaking for the North to loot property belonging to Igbos in the North that are making the demand. We call on security agencies to as a matter of urgency move against the brains behind the ultimatum to Igbos in the North.
Contrary to all other views, the Movement for Actualisation for the Sovereign State of Biafra said it gave “100 per cent support” to the threat issued by the northern youth groups.
Reacting to the threat, MASSOB leader, Uchenna Madu, said the pro-Biafran agitators were aware that the notice to quit would come, alleging that northern leaders sponsored their youths to threaten Igbo having seen that Biafra was a reality.
According to their statement, “As a matter of facts, this is the only rascality exhibited by sponsored Arewa youths to forcefully exit the people of Biafra residing in Arewa land that MASSOB will hundred percent support.”
