Jos Killings: Igbo Leaders Warn Against Future Attacks

Jonah-David-Jang

Plateau State Governor, Jonah David Jang

Plateau State Governor, Jonah David Jang

Igbo leaders in the 19 Northern States yesterday in Jos warned against further attacks on their kinsmen resident in Jos.

Mr. Ibe Nwosu, Eze Igbo, Abuja and Chairman, Igbo Traditional Rulers in Northern Nigeria, gave the warning during courtesy calls on the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da  Jacob Buba and Gov. Jonah Jang of Plateau.

Leading other Eze Igbo and Presidents-General of Igbo community associations in the 19 Northern states, Nwosu said Igbos are peace-loving and should not be  drawn into the Plateau crisis.

At the residence of the Berom Royal Father, Nwosu said that Igbos were disheartened by the happenings in Jos and especially as no drastic measures had been  taken to stop the violence.

“We are peaceful and business-oriented people and no amount of threat will make us run away from Jos. We should be allowed to continue to do our business  unhindered.

“We are not interested in politics, but we have been contributing our quota to the socio-economic development of Jos, Plateau and Nigeria,” he said.

Responding, the Gbong Gwom commiserated with the Igbos for the loss of their kinsmen in the recent unrest in Jos and urged them to continue to maintain their  peaceful nature no matter the level of provocation.

“The constitution of Nigeria guarantees freedom of worship and the rights of every individual. So we must be conscious of the fact that where someone’s  rights ends is where another person’s rights starts.

The Royal Father appealed to residents of Jos to learn from “history” and not to take the laws into their hands, alleging that some people were out to  destabilise the country.

Related News

Speaking at the Government Lodge, Nwosu reiterated that his people were not known to foment trouble because they needed peace for their business to thrive.

He, however, warned that the continued attack on them would make them to resort to self-defence if the authority did not arrest the situation.

In his response, Jang commended the Igbos for their peaceful nature promising them that President Goodluck Jonathan in conjunction with the Plateau  Government, were working on something drastic.

“ When the crisis broke out, I had to call my colleagues in the East not to allow any reprisal in the Eastern part of the country because those behind the  attacks are only trying to cause crisis all over the country.

“Enough is enough and I can assure you that it is no longer going to be business as usual; something drastic will be done this time around, I can assure  you,” he said.

He appealed to Nigerians not to allow themselves to be used to destabilise the country by “people who want violent change,” saying that Nigerians should be  allowed to make their choices peacefully.

He, however, called on the Plateau people to “defend themselves against further attacks,” noting that no amount of military personnel could provide security  for every household in the state.

“When your enemy knows that you are prepared to defend yourself, they won’t come to attack you because they will think twice before doing that,” he told NAN.

  Copyright protected by Digiprove © 2011 P.M.News

Load more