Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State has ordered the immediate arrest of the so called ‘Northern Youths’ group which gave the Igbo a three-month ultimatum to leave the north.
This follows a shocking ‘Kaduna Declaration’ on Tuesday in which the obscure youth group warned all Igbos to leave the region in three months or face dire consequences.
Amid the furore generated by the ultimatum, Governor El-Rufai, in a press statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Samuel Aruwan, condemned the move by the group, stating that they could not infringe on the rights of other Nigerians.
“The Kaduna state government has assured every resident in the state that nobody can tamper with their freedom to reside where they chose,” he said, slamming the decision by the group to use Kaduna State for their nefarious activities.
“This government has been consistent in taking action to punish hate speech and incitement. 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 and they cannot use our state to do or say things that threaten the peace.
“Kaduna state government has therefore ordered the arrest, investigation and prosecution of the signatories to 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.
He reiterated the right of every Nigerian, including those of Igbo extraction, to reside where they choose and develop their full potential, before ordering the arrest and prosecution of the culprits.
“Therefore, the Kaduna state government has directed that its ministry of justice to 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.”
Reiterating the oneness of Nigeria, the Governor called on residents to “ignore the threats from the “northern youths”, saying moves are being made with the leaders of the Igbo community in Kaduna to resolve the dispute.
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