The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) says Igbo people are responsible for perpetrating the most violence against Northerners outside their region.
Chairman of NEF, Prof. Ango Abdullahi stated this in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Tuesday.
The chairman led the forum on an assessment tour of northern communities outside the region in the wake of the #EndSARS protests. The tour started in Port Harcourt.
Speaking on the forum’s mission, Prof. Ango Abdullahi said, “We came because we saw no reason innocent residents, wherever they are, irrespective of where they come from, who are not participating in the protest will be subjected to violence.
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“They suffered enormous violence and loss of lives and assets of various magnitude.
“What was surprising to us was that those that perpetrated the violence against northerners are the same people who are crying more and calling for compensation.
“We take particular delight when we talked with the governor of the state. We were told by residents of Rivers that the governor was particularly interested in protecting them and their rights as he swore in his oath of office.
“It is now becoming clear that most of the violence that are being meted out to the northerners in various parts of the South came from people from the south-eastern states. People with some names.
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“We are not sure what name really they want to keep. They come with different brands, use these names to perpetrate criminality in different parts of the country. For years, this particular incident has been with us.
“It is up to the authorities to assure all of us that this must end. This must stop. I think the North will no longer allow this redline to be crossed. “It is because people get away with criminal behaviour without sanctions and punishment that is why they keep recycling this irresponsible behaviour.
“Therefore, as we leave the South-South, we will be heading for the South-East. We will be speaking with the leadership there, especially the governors, to remind them of their responsibility to protect residents irrespective of where they come from.
“Failure to do so, especially on this continuous bases, it will be difficult for all of us who have been restraining our various communities, especially our youths, to protect others when their brethren are being killed and maimed in other parts of the country.”
A day earlier, Prof. Ango Abdullahi led his NEF team to brief Governor Nyesom Wike on their mission in the state.