We are safe here! Igbos in the north dismiss calls to return home ahead of October 1

macfranc007 September 30, 2017 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Jerrywright Ukwu

- The leadership of the Igbo community in Northern Nigeria has shunned calls urging them to return home

- They described the renewed calls as nothing but mischief

- The Coalition of Northern Youths October 1 quit notice to Igbos living in northern Nigeria has since been withdrawn

The leadership of the Igbo community in Northern Nigeria has shunned renewed calls urging them to return home ahead of Sunday, October 1, The Nation reports.

An association of lawyers in Anambra state, on Thursday, September 28, advised Igbos to vacate the north, whether the threat would be carried out or not.

Reacting to the call, the vice president of Igbo Delegate Assembly in 19 northern states, Chris Nnoli, said the call by the so called lawyers was condemnable.

October 1 quit notice: Calls for us to return is nothing but mischief - Igbos in northern Nigeria

Borno state governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima was instrumental to the youths withdrawing the quit notice after he held series of meetings with them. Photo credit: Borno state government

He further described the call as nothing but mischief, while expressing his disappointment and dismay that professionals like lawyers could make such call.

“We are not in support of such call. And if lawyers actually made such call, because I also read the story in a national daily, then it is very unfortunate and we are not going heed it,” he said.

Nnoli, who is also the president-general of Igbo Community Welfare Association (ICWA) in Kaduna state, added that October 1 remains Nigeria’s national day and they will all celebrate together as Nigerians.

He said no Igbo man living in the north will heed such call because every Nigerian under the constitution of the country has the right to live anywhere they feel like within the country.

This was as Yerima Shettima, one of the leaders of the Coalition of Northern Youths, assured Igbos in the north that no harm will come their way on October 1 or after.

Shettima described the lawyers as mischief makers and enemies of Nigeria.

His words: “We are a people of honour and respect. We honour our words. So, the Igbo in the north can go about their normal business and should not listen to mischief makers.

“We have sensitised our members to ensure the safety of every Nigerian, especially the Igbo, and we can assure you that nothing will happen to the Igbo by October 1 and even beyond.”

Meanwhile, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has condemned plans by the Kaduna state government to arrest leaders of the Arewa youth coalition.

Spokesman of the NEF, Professor Ango Abdullahi, stated that the Kaduna state governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai has no moral stand to order for the arrest of the Arewa youths, who he said woke Nigeria from its slumber.

Watch this NAIJ.com TV video about Governor El-Rufai's response to the quit notice issued to Igbos: