- The Ijaw Youth Council stated that the refusal of the federal government to prosecute those responsible for disseminating hate against the Igbos was only emboldening them
- The group insinuated that there was a ploy to massacre southerners, considering the fact that the government had refused to apprehend those responsible for the quit notice and the anti-Igbo song
- It warned that the country may not be able to survive any inter-regional or inter-ethnic killings considering its fragile state
Niger Delta group the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), has fired off a warning that they would give a “commensurate response” if any southerners are harmed in the north.
According to reports, the warning was issued in a statement signed by Eric Omare, the factional chairman of the group, who faulted the security agencies over their failure to arrest those responsible for the anti-Igbo hate song which has been circulating.
READ ALSO: Arewa youths to reveal those behind protest against Buhari
NAIJ.com notes that the group also expressed anger that the individuals who issued the quit notice to Igbos living in the north, have not been arrested.
The statement read: “The news of a song calling for the killing of Igbo in the north has been reported by several newspapers; however it is sad to note that the government and security agencies have failed to act.
“The deliberate refusal of the government and security agencies to take action against several conducts by northern elements which threaten national security is emboldening these persons to continue in their conducts.
“It is very unfortunate that security agencies that would invite reputable Nigerians of southern extraction even for comments they know nothing about would turn a deaf ear to issues that threatens the survival of the country by northern elements.
“The hate song circulating in the north is more worrisome considering the insistence by northern youths that Igbo should quit the north by October 1, 2017.
“The coalition of northern youths October 1, 2017 quit notice coupled with the hate song and the deliberate refusal of the Hausa/Fulani led federal government to act clearly indicate that some elements in the north have made up their minds to massacre southerners living in the north.
“This is highly condemnable and unacceptable.
“The IYC calls on southerners living in the north to be vigilant in the days ahead and warn that any attack on southerners in the north will be visited with commensurate response from southerners.
“The federal government must know that considering the fragile state of the nation, Nigeria may not be able to survive any inter-regional or inter-ethnic killings.”
PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that the former Abia state governor Orji Uzor Kalu, strongly moved against a provocative song about Ndigbo currently circulating in the country.
Condemning the hate speech, Kalu said Nigeria’s ethnic, religious, cultural and political diversity should be seen as an advantage rather than a minus.
Watch this NAIJ.com TV video about the quit notice issued to Igbos living in the north
