The pan-Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has distanced the Igbo people from the recent mob killing of travelers in Uromi, Edo State. The group urged caution against reprisals and condemned attempts to link the Igbo to the incident.
In a statement on Sunday, the Deputy President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, clarified that Uromi is predominantly occupied by the Esan ethnic group and not part of Igboland.
โOhanaeze Ndigbo is deeply troubled by the misleading narratives linking the Igbo to the tragic events in Uromi,โ Isiguzoro stated. โWe unequivocally condemn the gruesome killing of innocent Northern travelers and sympathize with the bereaved families.โ
The group called on Northern leaders, including governors, religious figures such as the Sultan of Sokoto and the Shehu of Borno, and cultural organizations like the Arewa Consultative Forum and Northern Elders Forum, to ensure their communities understand that Uromi is not associated with the Igbo.
โOhanaeze strongly cautions against any reprisals targeting Igbo communities in the North. Such actions will only escalate tensions and disrupt peaceful coexistence,โ the statement added.
The group also urged the Federal Government and security agencies to ensure peaceful Eid-el-Fitr and Sallah celebrations without threats to Igbo communities. It called on respected Northern leaders to help de-escalate tensions and foster national unity.
โFor clarity, the Igbo have no cultural or social ties to the tragic incident in Uromi. We urge the public to desist from spreading false narratives that only serve to divide us further,โ Isiguzoro stated.
Reaffirming its commitment to national unity, Ohanaeze emphasized that the Igbo people will not be drawn into the unfortunate incident. The group called for dialogue, peace, and mutual respect among all Nigerians.
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