Attack On Ndigbo: Ohaneze Council Of Elders Speaks Up, Send Message Of Hope To Victims

By ThankGod Emeh…

The Council of Elders of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, the advisory arm of the apex socio-cultural organization of Igbo race has frowned at the “unprovoked and unwarranted attacks” on Ndigbo in many parts of Igboland.

The Council equally appealed to the Federal government to take decisive steps to stop this unwarranted violation of Rights of Igbo people before things get worsened.

The Chairman of the Elders Council and Elder Statesman, Chief Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu (Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo) stated this in a press conference in his Glass-House Office at Orji, Okigwe road, Owerri Imo state on Thursday December 1, 2022.

Chief Iwuanyanwu stressed that it is high time the incessant attacks and killings experienced in some parts of Enugu and Ebonyi as well as other South Eastern states are stopped to give the Igbos a sense of belonging in the country, while noting that “the case in Enugu state is a clear invasion of Igbo land by unknown people where many have been killed”

“Reports reaching my office confirm that innocent Igbos have been killed in their own homes, their houses destroyed, set ablaze and their property looted. Many Igbos especially in the border with Benue and Kogi states have fled from their homes and are now homeless. There are similar experiences in some parts of Ebonyi state especially those near the border of Northern states”

The Elder Statesman, Ahaejiagamba while decrying the impunity at which suspected violent Fulani herdsman have invaded Igboland armed with dangerous weapons including AK47; on behalf of the Elders Council requests Igbo and South Eastern leaders to convene an urgent meeting to stop the ugly narrative in the zone.

Iwuanyanwu declared that Ohaneze Council of Elders and Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide are viewing the ugly development with all seriousness stating that “any attack on an Igbo man anywhere is an attack on all Igbos”

He also stated that “Igbos will not accept any group whatsoever coming to our homes to kill our people, burn our houses and property as well as destroy our farmlands…”

“On behalf of Council of Elders of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, I most humbly requests the Chairman of the Governors Forum South Eastern Nigeria, Engineer Dave Umahi, FNSE and the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Professor George Obiozor to immediately convene a meeting of South East political, religious traditional and business leaders to find solution to stop this ugly situation”

“We are not going to accept any situation where our kiths and kins are killed and driven away from their ancestral homes. This is the position”

Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo called on Igbo business men and women to uphold the spirit of patriotism as well as unity of purpose evidenced in the “Igwebuike and Ibu Anyi Danda” philosophy of Ndigbo by collectively contributing their quota to help the South Eastern Governors to cushion the effects of flooding, killings and attacks on Igbo People and property.

He pointed out that the burden of catering for the welfare of the affected Igbos maybe too heavy most State Governors to cope with alone hence the need for contribution and assistance of Igbo men and women in business as well as urgent response from the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA to provide the needs of those affected by the attacks.

“We must rise to support them materially to assuage the problems of these attacks”

“I have had consultations with the Council of Elders and have discussed with the E-members of of our council and of members of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide…and they have expressed their concerns over this incident and it is a very sad situation as we are now having our sons and daughters, men and women of Igbo origin being killed and slaughtered in their own homes without any provocation and any reason whatsoever”

“This is completely unacceptable to Ohaneze Ndigbo, Ndigbo and as well Nigerians. Igbos have sworn to be part of Nigeria, we are part of Nigeria, we are faithful and loyal to Nigeria and we have demonstrated that by working and living in various parts of this country and contributing to developments”

“We are not going to accept any Igbo man killed for no just cause. There is nothing required of the citizens of this country that we have not fulfilled… if any Igbo man commits an offence; he should be tried and punished according to law”