Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Mr Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has lamented the continuous targeting of shops of Igbo traders and property of Igbo living in Lagos for demolition.
He chided the Lagos State Government for the unjust act which he argued, was part of the reasons Igbo youths agitate for self determination.
Ejimakor who took to his X (formerly Twitter) handle to ventilate his annoyance, wondered why Ndigbo should be the target of unfair treatments such as the unjust policy of abandoned property after the civil war, marginalisation and political exclusion.
Ejimakor tweeted: “Upon the pogrom, you seized their properties in Rivers, cheated them on state creation, starved them of roads, railways & seaport, renditioned their Leader & called them a dot. Now, you trouble them with #demolitions. But you still wonder why they #agitate. Why not? #FreeMNK.”
He further argued that people from other parts of the country including foreigners own most of the business in some parts of Lagos, wondering why Igbo property would always be targeted for demolition.
“The Lebanese own virtually all the upscale eateries in Ikeja & greater Victoria Island. Dangote, Indians & Chinese own much of the properties in Banana Island & Lekki Free Trade Zone. Yet, it’s #Ndigbo that always bear the brunt of ethnic irredentism in Lagos. This must stop.”
Ejimakor said that the volume of litigation that trailed the recent demolition of shops mostly owned by Igbo traders in Lagos, confirmed the race was deliberately targeted.
“The relentless demolition in Lagos is so notoriously discriminatory & unjust, such that will surely trouble Lagos State with countless scorched-earth litigations. For now, it has done so much to add to the systemic injustices that make it very tough for Ndigbo to be Nigerians.”
Ikengaonline had reported that Ndigbo living in Lagos and their business interests were targets of senseless attacks before and after the 2023 general election including the burning of some markets dominated by Igbo traders.
Lagos State Government recently demolished a number of shops owned by Igbo traders at the Alaba International Market, claiming they were illegal structures.
The action drew nationwide condemnation as some alleged it was a veiled punishment against Ndigbo in Lagos for their political choice during the just-concluded elections.
