Tunji Adedeji
Apparently angered over the heartrending movement of almajiris ,who are mostly dishevelled lads surreptitiously packed like sardines in articulated lorries from the North headed for the south east parts of Nigeria,the Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, Most Reverend Anthony Obinna has called on Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State,to
defend their homes and lands.
The Archbishop in a letter sighted by Trumpeta dated Monday, 1 June titled ‘Defend our home and lands’ and addressed to Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, raised alarm over alleged plans by herdsmen from the Northern part of Nigerian to wipe out Igbos across the country.
“He said ,’Having already spoken to Governor Hope Uzodinmma on these threats, I hereby publicly charge him to recognise that it is his primary duty as the chief security officer of the state and the lives of Imo people, their homes, their lands. Your excellency your voice should be loud and clear on this life and death issue”.
The respected clergy urged immediate action to stop alleged mass killings of the Igbos in their home states and other places in Nigeria.
According to the Bishop, ‘In the midst of the fear, panic and anxiety caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19)pandemic, it is unfortunate, sad and very distressing that our people are being subjected to vicious threats and acts of invasion, massacre and sack from herdsmen from the Northern part of Nigeria.”
The statement which read in part said: ” The hatred of Igbo in Nigeria had already been demonstrated through the Nigeria’s brutal war against Igbo who decided to live on their own as Biafrans away from Nigeria who had rejected them with so many merciless killings in cold blood.
“Not satisfied with defeating us in an uneven war, there is threat to wipe out the Igbo and take over our God-given lands. “
The cleric charged other South East governors and other Igbo at all levels to rise up and protect the people, their homes and lands.
“I urged all our people to rise up in prayer to God in vigilance and legitimate self defence . The right to life, to our home ,and to our lands is God given”.
Recalled that Nigerians have in recent days been inundated by the heartrending spectacles of almajiris.
This development has necessitated captions like Enugu govt intercepts 9 buses relocating almajiris from North ( May 8); Police intercept 200 Lagos -bound almajiris from Katsina ( SaharaReporters).online news portals and TV, with identical banner headlines like, “ Ogun intercepts truck carrying 30 almajiris among others.
