The south-east caucus of the National Assembly has condemned the #igbomustgo ethnic profiling of the Igbo people ongoing
The south-east caucus of the National Assembly has condemned the ethnic profiling of the Igbo people, following their decision not to join the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests against widespread hardship and hunger in the country.
The federal lawmakers described the situation as dangerous and unfortunate, urging authorities to take action against those spreading hate speech.
In a joint statement on Friday, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA Abia), leader of the south-east senate caucus, and Rep. Igariwey Iduma Enwo (PDP, Ebonyi), leader of the south-east caucus of the House of Representatives, expressed dismay at the targeting of the Igbo community.
They highlighted that the decision of the Igbos to abstain from the protests was based on advisory from Ohanaeze Ndigbo, south-eastern governors, parliamentarians, and business leaders.
“For the records, the Igbo nation, in obedience to the advice of their leaders; governors, Ohaneze Ndigbo worldwide, parliamentarians, and others in the private sector had taken a reasoned and strategic decision not to participate in the ongoing nationwide protests. This is evident in the relative calm experienced in the five south eastern states,” the statement read.
Despite this, the caucus noted that Igbos have been unfairly scapegoated and labeled as instigators of the protests, citing the #IgboMustGo hashtag and inflammatory comments by social media handles such as ‘Lagospedia’ on X (formerly Twitter).
“This dangerous ethnic profiling is unwarranted and must stop,” the statement continued, adding: “It was such profiling that led to millions of deaths in Nigeria from the 1950s to the unfortunate civil war in 1967 to 1970. Elsewhere in Africa, it led to the genocide in Rwanda and the xenophobia in South Africa. Such should not be our fate again in Nigeria.”
The caucus called on security agencies to hold accountable those responsible for spreading hate speech, in line with the Cybercrimes Act and the nation’s criminal laws.
“We demand, therefore, that the security agencies bring to book the purveyors of these hate speeches in line with the cybercrimes act and criminal laws of the country,” the statement added.
Furthermore, the lawmakers reiterated their appeal to Igbos nationwide to avoid participating in the protests and to remain law-abiding.
“We continue to appeal to Igbos across the country to stay away from the protests, and remain law-abiding,” they emphasized.
