Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Igbo youths have asked Governor Aminu Tambuwal to halt the on-going barbaric and unprovoked attacks and massive destruction of Igbo property in Sokoto State.
The youths who spoke under the auspices of Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, expressed furry that Ndigbo living in Sokoto were made scapegoats of the senseless killing of Deborah Yakubu, a female student of Sokoto College of Education, killed for alleged blasphemy.
COSEYL in a press statement Saturday evening, warned Sokoto indigenes to immediately halt the onslaught against innocent Igbo living in their state.
The statement signed by the President General of COSEYL, Comrade Goodluck Ibem, reminded those behind the unwarranted attacks on the Igbo that “nobody has the monopoly of violence.”
It further urged Gov. Tambuwal and security agencies in the state to ensure the protection of every Igbo living in the state.
Below is a full text of the statement made available to Ikengaonline:
“The Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, the apex socio-political youth group in the South-East geopolitical zone is alarmed over the massive destruction of Igbo properties and goods in Sokoto State by Sokoto indigenes .
“We are aware that the attack on innocent Igbo indigenes in the state is as a result of the alleged blasphemy of Miss Deborah Yakubu who was gruesomely Killed by a mob in her school.
“These attacks on law abiding and innocent Igbo businessmen who have done nothing wrong to warrant such vicious and barbaric attack on them is uncalled for and we condemn it in its entirety.
“We warn the Sokoto indigenes to stop the attack and destruction of Igbo properties and goods forthwith. We want these miscreants to know that nobody has monopoly of violence.
“The same way Igbos are living in the Sokoto doing their legitimate businesses in also the same way Sokoto indigenes are living in the South doing their businesses.
“We call on the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal to immediately arrest and prosecute those involved in the massive destruction of Igbo properties in the state and immediately pay compensation to those whose properties were destroyed.
“We will not entertain this kind of onslaught and attack again against the Igbos living in Sokoto State or any other part of the North.
“To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Those who have ears should hear. Enough said!”
