March 30, (THEWILL) – The pan-Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has dissociated the Igbo people from the tragic mob killing of Northern travelers in Uromi, Edo State, urging caution against any reprisals.
In a statement on Sunday, Deputy President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, clarified that Uromi is predominantly occupied by the Esan ethnic group and not part of Igboland.
He expressed concern over what he described as attempts to falsely implicate the Igbo in the unfortunate incident.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo is deeply troubled by the flood of misleading narratives linking the Igbo to the tragic events in Uromi.
“We unequivocally condemn the gruesome killing of innocent Northern travelers and sympathize with the bereaved families,” the statement read.
The group called on Northern leaders, including governors, religious heads such as the Sultan of Sokoto and the Shehu of Borno, as well as cultural organizations like the Arewa Consultative Forum and Northern Elders Forum, to ensure their communities understand that Uromi is not associated with the Igbo.
“Ohanaeze strongly cautions against any reprisals targeting Igbo communities in the North. Such actions will only escalate tensions and disrupt peaceful coexistence,” the statement added.
The group further urged the Federal Government and security agencies to ensure that upcoming Eid-el-Fitr and Sallah celebrations are held peacefully without threats to Igbo communities. It also called on respected Northern leaders to help de-escalate tensions and foster national unity.
“For clarity, the Igbo have no cultural or social ties to the tragic incident in Uromi. We urge the public to desist from spreading false narratives that only serve to divide us further,” Isiguzoro stated.
Reaffirming its commitment to national unity, Ohanaeze stressed that the Igbo people will not be drawn into the unfortunate incident and called for dialogue, peace, and mutual respect among all Nigerians.
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