•Tension in the North •Igbo lock up shops, business centres •Sultan calls for calm
From JOHN ADAMS (MINNA), PAUL ORUDE BAUCHI, GYANG BERE, Jos, Noah Ebije, Kaduna, AGAJU MADUGBA, Katsina, PAUL OSUYI, Asaba, OBINNA ODOGWU, Abakaliki, WOLE BALOGUN, Ado-Ekiti, JULIANA TAIWO-OBALONYE, Abuja
Anxiety and fear of reprisals following the clash between the Army and members of the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) in Aba, Abia State continued yesterday in many parts of the country particularly the North amid tight security in the affected places.
The development came even as members of the public were warned against any action that would constitute a breach of the peace and mutual coexistence of the people.
In Plateau State, two persons were killed with many others injured after more than 50 armed Hausa youths heading to the Jos Central Mosque for Juma’a prayer, invaded shops belonging to Igbo traders and looted them.
Governor Simon Lalong expressed shock on the killings, saying they were due to negative reactions by hoodlums over the agitation of IPOB in the South East.
Lalong who confirmed the death when he summoned traditional, religious and community leaders in the state for an emergency meeting on the need for enduring peace in the state expressed worries over the turn of events on the Plateau.
Saturday Sun observed that it took the combined efforts of the Special Task Force (STF) and the Police to repel the youths who were ready to throw the state into another round of crisis.
In Kaduna State, there was also fear as the Igbo in Kaduna closed their shops to forestal being looted by mischief makers.
Our correspondent who monitored the situation, noted that shops owned by the Igbo in popular places like Ahmadu Bello Way, Ori-Apata, Katsina Road as well as Jos road within the metropolis were locked up.
Security was beefed up in all parts of the state with a combined police and military men on patrol, particularly the metropolis. The situation was not different in Katsina even as Governor Aminu Bello Masari assured non-indigenes that government had taken the necessary steps to ensure their safety.
He advised Nigerians not to repeat the mistake of ignoring the activities of IPOB just like Boko Haram, explaining that if unchecked, the activities could consume the whole country. In a statement signed by the governor’s Senior Special Assistant (Media), Abdu Labaran Malumfashi, he urged residents to focus on their legitimate endeavours, assuring them that they have no cause to fear.
In Minna, capital of Niger State, palpable fear also gripped the residents mainly the Igbo and other non-indigenes who stayed indoors for fear of reprisal attack.
Saturday Sun reports that despite the heavy presence of security agents patrolling the major streets of Minna, the major roads were deserted as most people chose to remain indoors until after the Friday prayers.
Shops and other business premises owned by Igbo traders were under lock and key, while the few ones that managed to open were seen hurriedly packing their goods and locking up their shop.
The Niger State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello warned against any reprisal attack, especially on the Igbo resident in any part of the state, saying the government will not tolerate any attempt to breach the peace. He said anybody or group of troublemakers who attempted to breach the relative peace and tranquility in the state will be severely dealt with, insisting that Niger State is for all Nigerians.
In Bauchi, Governor Mohammed Abubakar expressed concern over the disturbances in some parts of the South East, saying the situation has caused “fear and uncertainty” in the country.
In a statement signed by the governor and copies made available to journalists in Bauchi, Abubakar condemned the disturbances and urged the people to desist from fanning the embers of disunity by spreading hate and false statements, especially on social medial.
Apparently aware of a possible spill over of clashes in parts of the South-East region to Delta State in the South-South, the state police command has deployed patrol teams to strategic areas.
At the time of filing this report yesterday, the situation in Asaba is however calm and devoid of any form of hostility as residents went about their normal activities unhindered.
But Saturday Sun observed the presence of mobile and regular policemen particularly in Okwe area of the capital city. Okwe is considered as a settlement for IPOB and other Biafran agitators obviously for its proximity to the River Niger which is the boundary between Delta State and states in the South-East. Also in Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike cautioned that the state government will not tolerate any attack on other Nigerians living in the state by members of the IPOB or any other group.
The governor in a statement by his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, said Rivers State belongs to all, adding that the state heartily welcomes any Nigerian who resides in the state and carries out his/her lawful businesses.
In Ebonyi State yesterday, the mood was peaceful. A visit by Saturday Sun to the Hausa community in Abakaliki, Ozibo village in Ebonyi Local Government Area of the state, Ugwuachara and other areas where the Hausa live confirmed that the Hausa were just going about their businesses without any harassment or intimidation. The leader of Hausa community in the state, Alhaji Danjuma Gambo, said he has not received any report of harassment and intimidation from any group or security agents.
Meanwhile, Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose has described the alleged maltreatment and killing of people of the South East agitating for self determination as ethnic cleansing, saying that he has forewarned that President Muhammadu Buhari’s second coming would be like the dark days of the military government in 1984 when the nation quaked under heavy militarisation.
He said: “I have said it before now that it is only God who can help the Igbo people. What I see is ethnic cleansing when you see the video clips of that occupation, the behaviour of the soldiers leaves much to be desired but they cannot act like that without a whistle blower; somebody is behind them telling them go and cleanse the people. That is recklessness. Human rights violation in Nigeria today is second to none. And I hope the international community would not be quiet on this. It is unfortunate.”