IGBO XENOPHOBIA : ‘Igbo Buru Otu Association’, Kicks Against Baales,Oba’s Threats,Trending August 20th Quit Notice To Igbos, Sue’s For Peace,Caution Yoruba Elders Over Incitement, Breach Of Peace. Watch Video Below 

By Temple Chidera Emmanuel 

Following an inciting viral video of threat to lives of Igbos resident in Lagos State, unlawful August 20, 2024 eviction Quit notice and Ultimatum, issued by some alleged unscrupulous ,lawless and faceless elements , which is trending in social media space, an Igbo Club, ‘Igbo Buru Otu Association’, has alerted the Public,Federal and Lagos state governments ,of imminent breach of public peace by those it described as “some Yoruba non chalant elders”, urging for immediate intervention by security Agencies, to avoid breach of public peace in the state.

Members of the Association,were worried that despite the evil nature of the  viral video ,said to have emanated from Lagos Island and Alausa, ikeja areas,”no known actions have been taken by governments and the security Agencies, to apprehend the purveyors of mayhem and crisis prone Incitements, especially, as the Country groans under the weight of the ongoing #End hunger and bad governance# protest, already crippling the Nations economy”.

Speaking yesterday, August 1,2024,at their newly built Club office and events auditorium, located at Ijegun area of Lagos State, the Founder and President General of the Association, PG, Eze ,Ambassador Dr. Chika Nwokedi, regretted that despite the obvious commitments and investments by the Igbos in Lagos state, some Baales, Oba’s and Elders are still fanning the embers of war , hatredness and chaos against the Igbos, who he said have hugely invested in the development  of Lagos state ,through their numerous investments and building infrastructures.

The PG, who is also the Eze Ndigbo in Ijegun/Ijadado area of Lagos state,as well as the Chairman,Council of Ndieze  in Lagos state,  recollected how some Baales and Oba’s were openly promoting disharmony between Yorubas and Igbos, Pushing Igbos to the wall through  their highly inciting and inflammatory statements ,”that Igbos wants to bomb and destroy Lagos”.

This he said happened at the  Area ‘M’ Police Command, Idimu, Lagos state,during the recent Pre – Protest Security Stakeholders Town Hall meeting for Alimosho local Government Area,with the State Commissioner of Police. 

Eze Nwokedi expressed disappointment that, Elders who are surposed to be preaching peace and love are the ones fanning the embers of war and Crisis. 

He referred to a similar but contradicting threat,allegation during the last General elections, where Igbos were accused of wanting to take over Lagos state and asked, “how can the Igbos want to take over Lagos and destroy it at the same time?”.

According to him, “since I came to Lagos 40 years ago, I have not experienced what i witnessed during the last election, the level of hate speeches and vile attitudes against Igbos.Afterall Igbos are not the only tribes in Lagos, the Fulani and Hausas are also in Lagos ,but do not receive as much threats, he bemoaned.

Bemoaning the situation, he said “Check the viral video of threat against the Igbos and the eviction Quit notice and the Ultimatum, yet nobody has been arrested but if it were to be  an Igbo person, by now lorry loads of armed security Operatives would have been unleashed against the person”.

Regrettable, he explained that there are many Igbo DPOs , Area Commanders and other senior members of the security Agencies serving in lagos , just as there are Same Senior security Operatives of Yoruba descent and extraction serving in the South East, but never have Igbo Elders, Igwes and Ezes threatened them the way entire Igbos are being threatened in lagos.

Warning of the consequences of Igbos  being pushed to the wall, he feared that they may be forced to react.

He warned those Yoruba Elders fanning the embers of war , to desist , refrain and allow their tongues to speak peace, harmony and not war, because war he said “doesn’t favor anyone” .

Cautioning against further altercation, he reminded the Yoruba Elders that every land , Property that Igbos possess in Lagos  state and any other part of Yoruba land, from their indigens, were bought with money and were not given free, hence ,  it sounds ridiculous that Igbos will after investments,  turn to destroy their own wealth and resources.

While Teaching them the rudiments of life, Eze Nwokedi, enjoined their Yoruba host to stop generalizing their negative speeches, threats, attacks on all Igbos but should concentrate on few bad Igbo elements in lagos, as every tribes have bad elements.

He admonished Igbos resident in Lagos state to be law abiding and shun annoying speeches, unnecessary, boastful,provocative ostentatious and flagrant display of their wealth , hence must realize that the Yorubas are their host .

He said, “We are one, with same blood flowing inside of us all,we must maintain peace and stop making Igbos “an escape goat” in any slight situation.People must realize that once a person is in need of blood transfusion, the person and doctor do not ask whether its Igbo, Yoruba or Hausa . So, you can see that some Yorubas may be carrying Igbo blood flowing in them without knowing it”.

In his own contribution, the Secretary General of the Association, Chief Ifeanyi Iguegbe, expressed concerns that Igbos are no longer safe in Lagos state since after the last election.

According to him, “Igbos have come under potent threats and attacks since after the election , our markets are being burnt down on weekly basis, despite the fact that Igbos are not the cause of hunger in the Country , we are not the architect of Nigeria problems and we buy from same market”.

Chief Iguegbe who relied on the constitutional provision that empowers every Nigerian citizen to reside in any part of the Country the person desires , noted that Igbos left their own home land and come to another persons land,have made Lagos their second home , helped in its development and beautification , but all they get is threats upon threats.

Fearing imminent breach of peace in lagos ,following the alleged Lagos Island threats video , the eviction order of August 20, 2024 deadline, issued against Igbos to vacate lagos, Iguegbe expressed concerns that such dangerous trends may prompt Igbos in the South East to reciprocate.

On his own part, the Club’s Second Vice President – General, Rev. Moses C.C Okwuosa , who towed a different approach in his own response, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Security Agencies.

He prayed for God’s divine direction to President  Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu of Lagos State, especially in the areas of food provision, power, fuel and infrastructural development .

While calling on other Clergy and Men of God to intercede for Lagos State,Rev. Okwuosa, urged Yoruba Elders behind the brewing crisis, to refrain from such plots , which he said,that at its best will cause mayhem.

However, Okwuosa was firm in his resolve that,” Igbos are not here for violence and war and because Lagos is our home, we will do everything possible within our powers ,to protect all our interest and the interest of the government , he concluded.