The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, worldwide has warned against the unwarranted attacks targeted at Igbos and their properties at various parts of Nigeria, stressing that it is unacceptable.
Ohanaeze particularly condemned in strong terms the attack on Ndigbo in Lagos and the wanton destruction of their goods as well as their properties nationwide without government intervention.
OPTIMUM TIMES recalls that thugs allegedly belonging and supporting the All Progressives Congress (APC) had at the wee hours (3.00 am) of Wednesday, stormed Akere Market, Olodi Apapa, mainly dominated by Igbo traders and set it ablaze while chanting Igbos must leave Lagos.
The spare parts market was completely razed down, while a security man who attempted at stopping the arsonists was killed just as goods worth billions were lost to the inferno.
The national Vice President of the organization Chief Okeke Ogene stated this on Thursday in reaction to the attack on Wednesday on Ndigbo at the Akere spare parts market Olodi Apapa Lagos.
He likened what is currently happening in Lagos State as a replica of what happened in 1966, in which over three million Igbos were killed, which was described as the worst genocide in South African sub Saharan.
He was reacting to thugs’ attack on Ndigbo and the burning down of their hard earned goods and property in the market .
Chief Ogene recalled the silence on the part of the federal government over the killings, maiming and burning of the properties of the people of the Southeast Nigeria in virtually every part of the country, particularly, in northern and western Nigeria as a dangerous presedence.
He called on the Lagos State governor Sanwa – Olu to urgently intervene in the on-going crisis between Ndigbo and the suspected thugs allegedly working for a certain political party in the State before it degenerate beyond control.
The Ohabaeze chieftain described the development as unhealthy for democratic process in Nigeria.
He pointed out that no tribe should be treated or seen as strangers in Nigeria because of political affiliation or choice warning that no person or group has monopoly of violence.
He further cautioned that henceforth Ndigbo would resist any attempt by any tribal group or organization that may want to unleash mayhem on them under any guise in any part of the country.
Chief Ogene urged the federal government to act quickly to avoid a repeat of the 1966 civil war in the Western Nigeria.
“I also want to call on the Western brothers to look inward and find a lasting solution to the urgly development, because this country belongs to all of us.
“I advise the Igbos to be law abiding and always strive to live in peace with their neighbors wherever they find themselves.
“Ndigbo are an enterprising people who can fit in , anywhere in the world and survive under any condition but that disposition and our resilient, commitment to peace should not be taken for granted “
An eye witness had disclosed that, that the arsonist came in their numbers and shot dead a security guard and two other persons before razing down facilities in the market.
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