Igbo Quit Notice: Sectional Approach to Law Enforcement’ll Destroy Nigeria, Says HURIWA

Adedayo Akinwale in Nigeria

The Human Rights Writers ‎Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has warned that the sectional approach to law enforcement would destroy Nigeria.

The rights group wondered why those behind the threat against the Igbo living in the 19 northern states have not been arrested up till now.

The National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, expressed his frustration at a press briefing in Abuja, saying that if the threat was allowed to be unleashed, the commoners would be the ones to suffer the consequences.

According to him, “we are not satisfied with the outcome, it is not far reaching enough. There was never a meeting before Nnamdi Kanu was picked up in a hotel in Lagos because he allegedly made hate speeches, he didn’t commit any hate crime. It is equivalent if no even more to what the Northern youth said.”

He added that no one would believe the acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, despite threatening brimstone because a Yoruba woman was killed by irate Hausa youth in Kubwa, Abuja without the killers arrested till date, and also the armed Fulani herdsmen have been embarking on killing spree in every part of the country without being arrested.

Onwubiko stated: “The statement does not contain innuendo, it was a direct threat against a section of Nigerians. The statement represents a serious threat to unleash genocide against the Igbo population.

“We demand their immediate arrest and prosecution. Hate speeches inevitably lead to hate crime, hate crime leads to war, that is the stage that Nigeria has reached and the federal government is playing with fire by just calling elders as if they are calling for village meetings. This is a serious matter of treason.

“The sectional approach to law enforcement in Nigeria is what is going to destroy this country. Whoever that commits a crime should be arrested. Let the courts be the one that will discharge him.

“The DSS that is very proactive have kept quiet, the Nigerian Army that is always very active are quiet, the Police issued a deceptive order for the arrest, only for that same order to be withdrawn, these guys appeared on TV and are allowed to go scot-free, and Nnamdi Kanu that used a radio station far away in London sneaked into the country and was picked up,” he said.
Meanwhile, ‎a group, Sustainable Nigeria Movement (SNIM), has called on the security agencies to bring to justice culpable individuals‎ who are directly or indirectly involved in orchestrating calls for the Igbo to leave the northern part of the country within three months to forestall further break down of law and order.

‎The National Chairman of the group, Comrade Kayode Arimoro, described the ultimatum ‎issued by a section of the Northern youth as ‘myopic’ and that it ‘propagates division and war’.

Arimoro said: “Sustainable Nigerian Movement and Global Association of Christians and Muslim Youth for Peace and Development, condemn in totality the three months ultimatum or any ultimatum whatsoever given by a section of the Northern youth or any other group now and in the future in any part of the country because it is myopic and propagates division and war.”
He added; “we commend the security agencies for their action following such calls and we urge them to go about bringing to justice culpable individuals‎ who are directly or indirectly involved in orchestrating ‎such calls in a professional manner so it does not lead to further breakdown of law and order.”

Arimoro however called on the government to fulfil its promise to the South-east on Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction; while also calling on various groups in the South-east ‎demanding for cessation to channel their effort in insisting that promises made by the government are fulfilled to the benefit of everyone.