The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has reacted to the recent killing of northern traders in Abia State.
The Igbo socio-cultural group commiserated with families of the bereaved persons, and owners of cows deliberately killed by an unidentified group.
In a statement dated Friday, February 17 that was made available to newsmen, Ohanaeze Ndigbo promised to continue to work with the northern leadership to ensure that the long time relationship between the north and eastern Nigeria is preserved.
Bibian Anekwe News reports that the Igbo group assured that nobody will stop the northerners from doing their cattle businesses in the South as it is by the laws of the land.
The group noted further in the statement issued through its Secretary-General, Mazi Okecukwu Isiguzoro, that Igbos are committed to providing succour to the bereaved families.
It extended its condolences to leaders of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) over the disturbing killing of northerners in Abia.
Ohanaeze, however, maintained that the assailants are not Igbos, but a set of people who migrated from neighbouring states and fled to their states after the attacks.
The statement reads: “We commiserate with the northern leadership over the death of northerners in Abia and we sympathise with all the bereaved families and owners of the cows slaughtered. Igbos are devoted to providing succour to the families and people affected by what happened.”
Ohanaeze also commended the Coalition of Northern Groups for their quick intervention to forestall a possible breakdown of law and order.
The statement noted that the Abia State government has shown maturity in handling the matter and advised that full compensation will be paid to the bereaved families and people whose businesses were destroyed in Abia.
Bibian Anekwe News reports that Ohanaeze’s statement also dismissed IPOB’s threat to ban cattle business in the east.
It pointed out that Igbos are doing business in the north unmolested and as such, nobody will harass those doing business in the east or any part of the country.
Bibian Anekwe News
