Ohanaeze cautions NEF on allegations against South East

FOLLOWING video clips of alleged harassment and assaults on Northerners engaged in lawful activities in the South East, the Chidi Ibeh faction of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday, urged the Northern Elders Forum ( NEF) to exercise prudence before making weighty allegations against the South East, considering that security challenges are a national concern requiring unified efforts to effectively combat.

In a statement in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, the Secretary General of the apex Igbo socio- cultural organisation faction, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said that even though the group categorically denounces any form of violence or intimidation against fellow Nigerians, be it in the East or North, the security agencies should conduct a comprehensive inquiry to determine the video’s authenticity, location, and timeline.

He said: “The relentless surge of violence across Nigeria has raised concerns among Nigerians and Ndigbo alike. We cannot disregard the urgent need for heightened efforts by all levels of government to address the prevailing security challenges, particularly in Northern Nigeria.

“We are deeply troubled by the statements attributed to the Deputy Director, NEF, Salisu Mohammed, regarding alleged harassment and assaults on Northerners engaged in lawful activities in the South East. Ohanaeze calls for a thorough investigation to ascertain the veracity and origin of the circulated video depicting this reported harassment.

“Ohanaeze categorically denounces any form of violence or intimidation against fellow Nigerians, be it in the East or North. We urge the NEF to exercise prudence before making weighty allegations against the South East, considering that security challenges are a national concern requiring unified efforts to combat effectively.”

The group noted that segmenting insecurity, violence and banditry to specific regions only serves to exacerbate the existing challenges. Ohanaeze, therefore, cautioned against escalating tensions and baseless accusations, particularly amid the overarching threat posed by Boko Haram to Nigeria’s stability and security.

It added: “We affirm the organisation’s commitment to investigating the truth behind these allegations. We call on security agencies to conduct a comprehensive inquiry to determine the video’s authenticity, location and timeline. We implore the NEF to provide accurate details to aid in identifying and bringing perpetrators to justice.”