The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Council of Elders has expressed concern over the wanton killings in Igboland, especially in Enugu and Ebonyi states.
The council, therefore, mandated the president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Prof George Obiozor, and the governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, to immediately convene a meeting of Igbo leaders of thought to address the issue.
Umahi is the chairman of the South East Governors Forum.
The chairman of the council, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, at a press briefing in Owerri on Thursday, said the situation should be addressed before it snowballed into a bigger problem.
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He said, “In the past few weeks, many parts of Igboland have experienced unprovoked attacks in some parts of Enugu and Ebonyi states. The case of Enugu is a clear invasion of Igboland by unknown people.
“Reports reaching my office confirm that innocent Igbo have been killed in their own homes, their houses destroyed, set ablaze and their property looted.
“Many Igbo, especially at the border with Benue and Kogi states have fled from their homes and are now homeless and many of them have lost their lives.
“There are similar experiences in some parts of Ebonyi State, especially those near the border of northern states.
“Ohanaeze Council of Elders views this situation as a declaration of hostility against Igbo. Make no mistake about it, any attack on any Igbo man is an attack on all Igbo.”
The council urged the South East Governor’s Forum in association with Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide to set up a relief committee to support all Igbo who have recently suffered from armed invasion and those who suffered due to flooding.
It also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to respond to the needs of victims and that the federal government should take steps to stop the attacks.
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