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| Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu. |
Ohanaeze
Ndigbo has expressed disgust and shock at the helplessness of security agencies
to arrest Ak-47 bearing Fulani boys, who openly slung the rifles on their
shoulders and openly rode through the streets in Anambra state.
President
General of the socio-political group, Chief John Nnia Nwodo who made the
revelation in an Open Letter to The Inspector General of Police entitled: “The
Road to Anarchy,” in which he also condemned the brazen, uncouth and
irresponsible utterance of Fulani leaders who “told the stakeholders to do
their worst and walked out on them, saying that their boys must always bear
arms to protect themselves against religious, ethnic or tribal attacks from any
quarters, and there is nothing anybody can do.”
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| President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo. |
Asking whether
bearing of unlicensed firearms
(especially sophisticated ones like Ak-47) no longer illegal and
therefore punishable in breach in the laws of this country, Chief Nwodo said: “Does
the impetuous action and utterance of the Fulani leaders not a clear and
definite invitation to anarchy? If
everybody in this country, irrespective of tribe, carries such firearms to
protect himself, will the security agencies be able to contain the mayhem that
will ensue?”
He
continued: “The action of the police in Anambra State is, to say the least,
despicable and a tacit invitation to anarchy. Except a coward, nobody will ever
run away from his fatherland and leave it for another to occupy. Ndigbo are not
cowards.
“The
behaviour of the police probably explains why it is only police commissioners
from a particular part of the country that are posted to Igbo land. This also
tends to lay credence to the fears being harboured by our people that even the
military laying siege on Igbo land are here to protect the interest of an
ethnic group. Not only have Ndigbo been marginalised in this country, they are
even being pushed to the brink. It is always said that no country survives a
second civil war.”
Full text of
Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s Open Letter to the IGP reads:
AN OPEN
LETTER TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE
Sir,
THE ROAD TO
ANARCHY
It is with a
heart full of trepidation and responsibility that Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide
brings to your notice a potentially explosive situation in Anambra State of
Nigeria.
The people
of Umuawulu Community in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State saw
four Fulani boys with six Ak-47 rifles slung on their shoulders and riding two
motor cycles and trailed them to Isiagu Community also in Awka South LGA where
they reside. When the news of the brazen wielding of firearms spread across the
council area, as law-abiding citizens, the stakeholders there convened a
crucial meeting with the police and Fulani leaders in the State and raised the
matter for deliberation.
The stakeholders
told the Fulani leaders in the presence of men of the State Investigation and
Intelligence Bureau, SIIB, Awka that they were alarmed and surprised that their
boys were flagrantly displaying arms in the public, unmindful of the legal
implications of unlawful possession of firearms. The stakeholders expressed
disappointment that security agencies did not make any attempt to arrest the
offending Fulani boys, adding that if it were Igbo boys they would have been
arrested, tortured and charged to court.
But rather
than explain what led to the carrying of arms by the boys, or even apologise on
behalf of the boys, the Fulani leaders told the stakeholders to do their worst
and walked out on them, saying that their boys must always bear arms to protect
themselves against religious, ethnic or tribal attacks from any quarters, and
there is nothing anybody can do. This, in the presence of law enforcement
agents and nothing was actually done to arrest either the Fulani boys or their
leaders for overtly declaring war on the people of Anambra State.
The
Inspector General of Police sir, Ohanaeze Ndigbo is alarmed by this wanton act
because of the danger it portends. This raises the following questions :
1. Is the
bearing of unlicensed firearms
(especially sophisticated ones like Ak-47) no longer illegal and
therefore punishable in breach in the laws of this country?
2. Do we now
have different laws for different ethnic groups in Nigeria? If it were to be
members of IPOB or any other group other than Fulani that bear such illegal
arms what fate would befall them ?
3. Does the
impetuous action and utterance of the Fulani leaders not a clear and definite
invitation to anarchy? If everybody in
this country, irrespective of tribe, carries such firearms to protect himself,
will the security agencies be able to contain the mayhem that will ensue?
4. Can the
IGP imagine what fate that would have befallen any Igbo leaders in any part of
the North who dare challenge their hosts and the police with such impunity and
callousness?
Mr Inspector
General of Police sir, Ohanaeze Ndigbo
believes that there is enough tension in the country already to allow room for
more. But, it is only a tree that they tell it will be cut down and it remains
motionless waiting for the axe. The principle of self defense is even enshrined
in the statutes of the country. Peaceful
coexistence is a prerequisite for development.
The police
is by statute empowered, equipped and
expected to make peace between two warring factions and not to take sides or
protect one group.
The action
of the police in Anambra State is, to say the least, despicable and a tacit
invitation to anarchy. Except a coward, nobody will ever run away from his
fatherland and leave it for another to occupy. Ndigbo are not cowards.
The
behaviour of the police probably explains why it is only police commisioners
from a particular part of the country that are posted to Igbo land. This also
tends to lay credence to the fears being harboured by our people that even the
military laying siege on Igbo land are here to protect the interest of an
ethnic group. Not only have Ndigbo been marginalised in this country, they are
even being pushed to the brink. It is always said that no country survives a
second civil war.
Like I
always say, Ndigbo are ever capable of defending themselves. They will not fold
their arms and allow gun-totting marauding Fulani herdsmen to continue
harassing, raping, maiming and killing them in their own homes. We are
law-abiding, hospitable and always ready to coexist with others as friends and
brothers but not as foes and at a supreme price.
Enough is
enough.
Chief John
Nnia Nwodo
President
General
Ohanaeze
Ndigbo Worldwide
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