Tobias Sylvester
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council worldwide has demanded an immediate sack of Fulani youths serving as gatemen and watchmen in Igboland.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural group made this call following the plan of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to establish ‘Fulani Youth Vigilant’ group in the Southeast region that will be working with the security, the neighborhood watch or to ensure security in all communities.
In a statement issued on Sunday by Ohaneze Youths President General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the group rejected the call for establishment of vigilante groups in the South East.
Isiguzoro noted that most houses and streets in the South East employ northerners as security personnel, adding that except the South Easterners get rid of those Fulani youths as their gatemen and watchmen, all their outbursts against the establishment of Fulani Youths Vigilante groups will amount to nothing. He said:
“The truth must be told that Fulani Youths Vigilante groups have been existing here in the South East Nigeria for decades unofficially, and we appreciate the Comments of Chief Nwodo Jnr that he will resist the establishment of Fulani Youth vigilante group.
“We observed that over 90% of the mansions and houses owned by igbo politicians, Igbo businessman and opinion leaders are keeping Fulani Youths as GATEMEN and WATCHMEN, including the house of Chief Nnia Nwodo at Enugu, we now wonder, how can someone be shouting about resisting Fulani Youths Vigilante groups when he had been paying the same Fulani Youths as GATEMEN for decades.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth council worldwide observed that except We get rid of those Fulani Youths as Our GATEMEN and WATCHMEN, Our outbursts against the Establishment of Fulani Youths Vigilante groups are amount to nothing, when the Fulani Youths Vigilante groups are unofficially operating in Our midst for Decades and Even most Tenants in the South East prefer the Fulani Youths Vigilante guarding their streets than our local Vigilante groups.
“Except Igbos do the needful, the Fulani Youths Vigilante groups are unofficially operating in the South East, and that’s what gave the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria the effontery and Audacity to look at Our Leaders Face to Face at South East Security Summit Enugu, and demand the official recognition of these Fulani Youths operating as GATEMEN and WATCHMEN at Our houses as Vigilante groups,they are fully aware of those guarding our Mansions in the South East are enough to constitute a Militia to deal decisively against the people of the South East, in our local adage” Oke nno n’ulo gwara Oke nno na ohia na Azu nno na ngiga,” Ohanaeze youths stated.
