The Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, has warned that it would not tolerate alleged act of provocation against Nigerian citizens of Northern origin resident in Rivers or any other state by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
This is contained in a statement issued by the spokesperson of the Group, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman made available to Ashenewsonline on Tuesday.
According to the statement, it is unthinkable that IPOB, which has been outlawed, would issue threats and actually carry out those threats, without apprehension by the security agencies.
CNG also called on “southern governors to speak up and act for the rights of northerners to be protected from illegal harassment where they earn their living.”
Read the full statement below:
The Coalition of Northern Groups is shocked by reports of attacks by suspected Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, terrorists on northern communities in Oyigbo local government area of Rivers state that led to killing of two innocent Hausa residents.
While we await further reports from the leadership of the northern communities in Rivers, we assure northern residents in any part of this country that such reckless act of provocation would certainly not be tolerated.
For IPOB, a terror outfit that has been outlawed, to have the audacity to hold open meetings, protests, issue threats and actually carry out those threats, points to the failure of the nation’s security and law and order assets.
It is irritating that the federal and authorities of some southern states look on while IPOB and its ilk keep refusing to make room for the efforts to build a nation where a citizen is safe and secure wherever he chooses to live and work in Nigeria.
The least expectation is for all southern governors to speak up and act for the rights of northerners to be protected from illegal harassment where they earn their living; their rights to places of worship consistent with their means and the elements of justice; and their rights to full protection when they live as minorities among the communities of Eastern Nigeria.
While we urge our fellow northerners to persist in the belief and practice in co-existence by continuing to protect the rights of other Nigerians, we, at the same time remind other Nigerians that the laws of the land demand that every Nigerian live and earn his legitimate living in any part of Nigeria without discrimination or molestation.
We warn that while each component of the Nigerian nation respects its individual identities, it must as well respect the identities of those we share this nation with.
There is enough room for all of us to grow and prosper in Nigeria, but only if we trust each other to play by the rules and to be fair and just with each other.
