Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Igbo youth leaders have condemned a fake news report allegedly quoting the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta Mbata, as calling on Igbo men to arm themselves.
The widely circulated statement falsely claimed that Senator Mbata said: “Every Igbo man from 18 years up must get a gun, stack weapons. Igboland is under terrorist siege and must be defended. A war is coming in days.”
Reacting, the Igbo Youth Leaders and Stakeholders Assembly, in a statement signed by its leader, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, described the report as “mischievous, clueless and malicious propaganda.”
The group called on security agencies, including the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), to investigate and prosecute those behind the fake news, which it said poses a serious threat to national security.
According to the statement, Senator Mbata is a renowned statesman and patriot with impeccable character and outstanding track records, urging the public to disregard the false report and always verify sensitive information before sharing.
The statement read in part: “Our attention has been drawn to the unfounded, mischievous and clueless allegations against the leader of the Igbo nation and President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Distinguished Senator John Azuta Mbata, where he was accused of saying, and we quote: ‘Every Igbo man from 18 years up must get a gun, stack weapons. Igboland is under terrorist siege and must be defended. A war is coming in days.’
“This is fake news. We categorically state that our leader and President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide did not and can never issue such a call for arms. This malicious propaganda and criminal blackmail, for whatever purpose, is dead on arrival.
“Senator John Azuta Mbata is a renowned statesman and remarkable patriot with impeccable character and outstanding track records.”
The group strongly condemned the false insinuations and urged members of the public to consciously verify sensitive content before dissemination, warning that sharing unverified information could aid fake news peddlers.
It stressed that the matter is one of national security and should not be treated lightly.
“Consequently, we call on the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), and other relevant authorities to deploy their investigative mechanisms to detect, arrest and prosecute the sponsors and promoters of this fake news, which undermines collective efforts toward peace, stability and national security,” the statement added.
The youth leaders also commended the South East Development Commission (SEDC) for its efforts toward regional development, particularly the South East Vision 2050 initiative, urging it to prioritise security in the region.
They noted that no meaningful development can thrive in an atmosphere of insecurity, while also praising political leaders and security agencies working to secure communities in the South East.
The group further called for political solutions and non-kinetic approaches to addressing the security challenges confronting the nation.
