The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has cautioned against attempts to incite ethnic tensions over allegations of attacks on truck drivers in the South-East region.
The group issued the warning in response to concerns raised by the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), which claimed that truck drivers transporting goods from the North to the South-East were being targeted by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
In a statement released by its National President, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, the council dismissed the allegations as surprising and misleading, emphasizing the peaceful and hospitable nature of the Igbo people.
“As we speak, trucks from different parts of the North are offloading food items in several markets across Igboland. Many of these food items belong to Igbo businessmen and women. It is, therefore, bizarre for anyone to conclude that they have suddenly become targets of attacks,” Nnabuike stated.
He reassured that northerners conducting legitimate businesses in Igboland have nothing to fear, reaffirming the Igbo people’s tradition of hospitality and protection of visitors.
While acknowledging the rise in criminal activities across the country, Nnabuike warned against misinterpreting isolated security incidents as a deliberate campaign against northerners. He stressed that such narratives could incite retaliatory attacks on Igbo traders in the North, escalating tensions and endangering national unity.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council called for restraint and urged leaders across all ethnic groups to work towards fostering unity and understanding rather than promoting discord. The group also emphasized the need for security agencies to conduct thorough investigations into any reported incidents to ensure factual and unbiased reporting.
The statement concluded with a call for all Nigerians to remain vigilant against misinformation capable of inciting ethnic division, reiterating that the Igbo people remain committed to peaceful coexistence and national harmony.
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