Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide has said those who killed and destroyed properties belonging to the Igbos resident in Lagos following the outcome of the just concluded general elections will not go unpunished.
The apex sociocultural organization said this in a communique jointly signed by the elders of the group after a meeting held on the 26 of March.
Part of the communique reads, “An emergency virtual meeting of Council of Elders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide was held on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. In attendance were Elders from Nigeria, USA, UK, Italy and other parts of the world.
“The meeting was convened to review the painful and agonising experiences of Igbo in Lagos during the recent Nigerian General Election. During this election, innocent Igbos resident in Lagos who came out as patriotic Nigerians to cast their votes were assaulted, brutalized and some were reported to have been killed in the process by some miscreants and thugs recruited by some desperate politicians.
“These unpatriotic Nigerians destroyed properties belonging to the Igbo, for example, a whole market was burnt. Information available to us reveal that they are still threatening the lives of Igbo and their properties in Lagos State.
“The Elders at this meeting critically reviewed the Igbo experiences in Nigeria and unanimously agreed that Igbos since the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914 have remained committed towards peace, progress and economic development of Nigeria. The Igbo at various times demonstrated this commitment by the activities of some of their sons and daughters. For example, an Igbo son Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was very prominent in the struggle for independence of Nigeria.
“Azikiwe with some other nationalists from other ethnic groups worked very hard to ensure that Nigeria attained Independence on October1, 1960.
“In various fields of human endeavour, the Igbos have blazed the trail and very often projected Nigeria to international recognition and fame. The Elders recalled with sadness and deep regret, the events of 1966 that led to the Nigerian civil war.
“The civil war destroyed many Igbo lives and properties. Indeed, Ndigbo at the end of the civil war in January, 1970 were impoverished and brutalized physically and materially. The Elders drew similarity between the current events in Lagos to those that led to the civil war. In the recent events, the Igbo were attacked during the Lagos governorship election for voting for political parties of their choice in an election which featured only Yoruba candidates.
“All the candidates for the election in Lagos State were Lagosian or Yorubas. It is therefore strange, unjust and inconceivable to profile the Igbo and their assets for destruction because they exercised their franchise in favour of the Yoruba candidates.
“It was observed that any Igbo man who attempted to defend himself was branded a thug, arrested and detained while the assailants who manifested and exemplified thuggery were freed.
“We appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR to bring to book all those who played remote and immediate roles in killing, maiming and destroying the properties of the Igbos in Lagos State. We also appeal to the Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Babajide Sanwolu to use his office as the Chief Security Officer of Lagos State to protect Igbo lives and properties and ensure that the Igbo who are maliciously detained in various police stations are released.
“The Elders advise the Igbos living in Lagos to remain calm and go about their normal businesses. We have been in touch with some Leaders of Lagos State and we are convinced that there is no state of war or crisis between the Igbo in Lagos and Lagosian or Yorubas, rather it is the handiwork of a few desperate politicians and miscreants.
“We also intend to point out to the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Governor of Lagos State that, just as the votes cast for the Labour Party in Lagos State could not have been from the Igbo community alone, there are numerous Igbos in Lagos State who are not only staunch members of the APC, but vehemently supported and voted for the APC in all the elections.
“The Elders therefore resolved to take the following actions:
“a. To formally petition the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces President Mohammadu Buhari, GCFR in order to express our sadness and disappointment over this unfortunate development. We also intend to send protest letter to the National Assembly and other relevant agencies to express our feelings.
“b. High powered Igbo delegation will be sent to Lagos to meet with some Leaders of Lagos State in order to establish a lasting cordial and peaceful relationship between the Igbo and the Yoruba in Lagos.
“c. The Elders have directed the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in association with Council of Elders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to set up an Enquiry to carry out full investigation into the killings and destruction of properties and assets of Ndigbos in Lagos. Amongst other terms of reference, the report must indicate:
“i) Number of Igbos killed
“ii) Number of Igbos injured and hospitalized
“iii) Number of Igbos permanently incapacitated
“iv) Comprehensive report of Igbo assets and properties destroyed including the burning of market.
“d. Ohanaeze Ndigbo will ensure that all perpetrators of this criminal activity are brought to book and adequate reparation/compensations paid to the victims.
“e. The Elders have resolved that Ndigbo will no longer fold their hands and watch their kit and kin humiliated, brutalized and killed.
“f. Based on the foregoing, the Council of Elders directed Ohanaeze Ndigbo to set up an Emergency Telephone Line where Igbos in Lagos who are victimized because of their Igbo origin will report.”
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