Protest: Southeast NASS Caucus Denounces Ethnic Profiling Against Igbos

Protest: Southeast NASS Caucus Denounces Ethnic Profiling Against Igbos

The Southeast caucus of the National Assembly on Friday, August 2, condemned alleged ethnic profiling of Igbos in the face of ongoing protests in parts of the country.

The xaucus also called on security agencies to fish out those behind the hate messages and prosecute them in line with the Cybercrimes Act and other extant laws of the country.

The caucus made the demands in a statement signed by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Leader of the South East Senate Caucus) and Rt. Hon. Igariwey Iduma Enwo (Leader of the South East Caucus of the House of Representatives) in Abuja.

The statement reads in part: “The attention of the South East Caucus of the National Assembly has been drawn to the unfortunate  and dangerous ethnic profiling of Igbos in the ongoing mass protests across the country.

“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 on-going nationwide protests. This is evident in the relative calm experienced in the five South Eastern states.

“We are, therefore, surprised and disappointed, that Igbos are still made scapegoats,  and targeted as instigators of protests, as shown in several statements (such as the Igbo Must Go hashtag and call by a certain ‘Lagospedia’ X (Twitter) handle) and videos seen online.

“This dangerous ethnic profiling is unwarranted, and must stop. It was such profiling that led to the millions of deaths in Nigeria from the 1950’s 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.

“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.

“We continue to appeal to Igbos across the country to stay away from the protests, and remain law abiding.”