Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, has raised an alarm over an alleged plot by some unidentified persons to turn the South-East region into an area for terrorist activities.
Professor George Obiozor, President-General of Ohanaeze, made this known at a press conference in Abuja on Monday.
According to Obiozor, security operations in the South-East region must be harmonised in order to nullify the threat of the criminal elements.
“People want to turn Igboland into a terrorist environment. Igbos are builders and not nation breakers,” he said.
“We are not violent people, so we must find out the root of the recent spray of violence, kidnappings and others.”
Reacting to the recent violence in the South-East states, Obiozor said it is not in the character of the Igbos to be lazy or violent.
He called on the public not to associate the southeast with kidnappings or violence, adding that undue publicity should not be given to trivial issues.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo leader also commended the region’s governors for launching a security outfit codenamed Ebube Agu, which is aimed at nipping in the bud the various security challenges confronting the southeast.
Obiozor said any organisation working for the interest of the people would be welcomed, provided they adopt a civil method of checking crimes and criminality in the region.
He, however, said raising sentiments on the basis of Ebube Agu and ESN was unnecessary.