Nonsochukwu Uwa, Owerri
The Igbo National Council, INC, on Monday called on Igbos living in Sokoto state and other parts of the northern states to rise and defend themselves.
INC made this call through the President, Chilos Godsent, in a statement to newsmen in Owerri, over the burning of properties said to belong to Igbos by some northern youths hours after Deborah Samuel had been beaten to death over alleged Islamic religious blasphemy in Sokoto state.
According to INC, “The Igbo National Council (INC) condemn in its totality the Killing of Deborah Samuel and the wanton destruction and looting of the properties of of Igbos living and doing business in Sokoto and other states of the North.
“INC therefore advise the Northern elites to immediately caution and call to order these bloodthirsty hoodlums that have continued to take laws into their hands in the pretence of defending the Islamic faith.
“INC, therefore, charges Ndigbo living in Sokoto and other states of northern Nigeria to rise in solidarity to defend themselves. Nigeria belongs to Igbos; therefore Ndigbo cannot allow themselves to be intimidated or threatened to leave any part of Nigeria. The Igbo race are not known to be cowards and cannot live the lives of cowards. We are brave people and must continue to exhibit that bravery anytime and anywhere no matter what the circumstances are.
“Finally, we call on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the heads of Security agencies to immediately fish out and prosecute the perpetrators of the wanton destruction and looting of properties of Ndigbo living and doing business in Sokoto and other states of Northern Nigeria,” Godsent said.
