"ARREST AND PROSECUTE PERSONS BEHIND INCITING AND HATE SPEECH.............. EL-RUFAI

Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State has directed security agents, especially police immediately arrest all persons behind the offensive statements that called for the notice for the relocationof all Igbos from the North.

In a statement signed by his spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai strongly condemned, "the inciting, hate speech delivered by some self-appointed ‘northern youths".


Accordingly, "the Kaduna State Government has directed that its Ministry of Justice should prepare charges and prosecute the signatories and anyone complicit in arranging this egregious assault on the rights of fellow citizens".

Condemning the action of the groups, el-Rufai assured every resident of the state that, "nobody can tamper with their freedom to reside where they choose".

Below is the full text of the statement:

"The Kaduna State Government condemns in the strongest terms the press statement by some self-appointed "northern youths" that threatened the safety and property of our citizens of Igbo extraction.

"Government assures every resident of our state that their constitutional and human rights to live peacefully and own property wherever they choose is sacrosanct".

"Even people who may feel unhappy about irresponsible comments or actions that have taken place in other states must know that two wrongs cannot make a right".

"The Kaduna State Government believes in and will uphold the right of every Nigerian to live safely and develop his/her full potentials within its territory".

"Reckless disregard for the rights of other citizens drips through the press statement by these "northern youths" who have chosen to use the discourse around restructuring to promote their own agenda of hate, division and incitement. This sort of opportunists cannot be allowed to distort debate, or turn it into a pretext for a barely-disguised agenda of displacement and dispossession of some citizens".

"We will not tolerate such irresponsible statements and conduct in our state. The statement issued by the "northern youths" violates the laws of Kaduna State".

"Therefore, the Kaduna State Government has directed that its Ministry of Justice should prepare charges and prosecute the signatories and anyone complicit in arranging this egregious assault on the rights of fellow citizens".

"Preparatory to prosecution, the police have been directed to immediately arrest, interrogate the signatories to the statement and investigate all the circumstances and persons that may be implicated in the matter".

"The Kaduna State Government urges all residents to ignore the threats from the “northern youths”. We are in contact with the leadership of the Igbo community in Kaduna, and we delighted to say that this community, like all our other communities, believes in the strength of the constitutional order to protect all citizens".

"KDSG wishes to encourage all our people to celebrate the diversity with which the Almighty has blessed us, to continue to shun agents of division, and to stand firm in upholding a common humanity. Everyone has a right to live in peace and harmony", the statement read.

However, NAIJ NEWS ALERT contacted some prominent leaders of Igbo extraction to get their reactions as to the government's reassurances.

According Nze Enyinnaya Nwafor, Governor Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai has shown how committed he is to the continued peaceful coexistence of all Nigerians resident in his state and this must be applauded by everyone.

But, as a people of peace, this reassurances does not mean we would let our guards down as we will remain vigilant and prayerful.

We have our leaders here and back home who will deliberate on the issue at hand. While we remain grateful to His Excellency, we must be conscious of the facts that, youths across the country, have become restless and unguarded in their statements and utterances.

We are therefore, constrained to request Mallam Nasir el-Rufai to ensure that security surveillance is in place to ensure the safety of lives and properties of all residents, especially residents from the Southeast region of Nigeria who are perceived targets in break down of security.

While calling for calm, Nwafor says Igbos must remain law abiding as always as they go about their legitimate businesses.