OHANAEZE Ndigbo has dismissed as a baseless misinformation, an allegation by two Muslim groups, the South East Muslim Organization of Nigeria, SEMON, and the Igbo Muslim Forum, that Igbo Muslims were being killed in Igbo land.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo also expressed worry over what it called “ceaseless insinuations that the Igbo are against Muslims or the North”, and warned of “the grave socio-cultural and religious implications of such dangerous allegations for the nation”.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural body, in a statement noted that such similar allegation was first made by the “Northern Elders Forum, NEF, in their unguarded and spurious gaffe”, but said that their allegation “has been debunked by majority of Northern Leaders as unbecoming and untrue statement”.
The statement which was signed by Emeka Attamah, the special adviser to President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo said: “This time, SEMON is saying that Muslims and mosques were deliberately targeted by the Independent People of Biafra, IPOB, especially during the #ENDSARS protest.
“The statement jointly signed by one Suleiman Afikpo and Muhammad Amachi, alleged that there was a deliberate attempt to hound Muslims from the South East into silence while Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the South East Governors look the other way.
1. Let it be on record that when the media downplayed the killings of #Muslims in the South-South and SouthEast during the #EndSARS protest, @muslimnews_NG didn’t join in suppressing the reports of the killings, 'cos #alllivesmatter. #wednesdaythought #shekau#ZabarmariMassacre pic.twitter.com/7Hav9EMVJA
— Muslim News Nigeria (@muslimnews_NG) December 2, 2020
“The truth is that there has never been any report of even harassment let alone killing of any Muslim made to any group or government. No such report has ever been received.
“The Igbo are law abiding and recognize and respect the freedom of religion enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.
“It is interesting that in the very words of the claimants; Islam has existed in Igbo land since the early 19th century. It did not just appear in the region. It has peacefully been propagated and boasts of occupying the second largest and widely accepted religion in the present Ala-Igbo.
“From inception till date, Islam and Muslims of Ala-Igbo have maintained peaceful co-existence and its presence has not endangered the wellbeing of Ndigbo.The big question now is, when did this situation change? When did Ndigbo become intolerant of Muslims in their midst?
“Also, the allegation of two mosques being destroyed at Nsukka is another bundle of lies. There was an altercation, not religious intolerance or aggression which has since been resolved.The rapidity at which these baseless and unfounded allegations about the Igbo hating the North is becoming redoubtable and alarming and is suggestive of a clandestine gang up to discredit the Igbo and make them unacceptable to the North in the build up to the 2023 presidential election.
“This situation is unfortunate considering the sacrifices Ndigbo have made and are still making for the development and unity of the country. Ndigbo cannot antagonize anybody from any part of the country knowing fully well that they are more itinerant and settle in all parts of the country than any other ethnic group.
“Evidently, there is a vicious and subterranean plan to scuttle the current momentum that the quest for a president of Igbo extraction is fast gaining.It is sad and regrettable that the North which had always been a political ally of the East is being used to fan this ember of hatred for Ndigbo.
“Just like the first smear campaign by the Prof. Ango Abdullahi group backfired, the current one will also be unmasked as an empty ploy to sabotage the interest of the Igbo. If not, let them adduce evidences of their claim,” he added.
ATTACKS ON MUSLIMS
Muslim News had published what appeared to be coordinated attacks on Muslims; their businesses and places of worship in the South South and South East during the #EndSARS protests. SEE BELOW:
▪︎Exclusive: How IPOB burnt Orlu mosque, killed one, injuried four (Part 2)
▪︎ #EndSARS: IPOB members kill 10 Muslims in Port Harcourt
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