The South-East Caucus of serving senators has condemned the ethnic profiling of the Igbo in the ongoing mass protests across the country.
In a statement signed by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and Igariwey Iduma Enwo, the caucus expressed surprise and disappointment that the Igbo are being targeted as instigators of protests despite their decision not to participate.
“For the record, the Igbo nation, in obedience to the advice of their leaders: Governors, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, parliamentarians, and others in the private sector had taken a reasoned and strategic decision not to participate in the ongoing nationwide protests,” the statement read.
The caucus noted that the relative calm experienced in the five south eastern states is evidence of the Igbo’s decision not to participate in the protests. However, they expressed concern that the Igbo are still being made scapegoats and targeted as instigators of protests.
“This dangerous ethnic profiling is unwarranted and must stop. It was such profiling that led to the millions of deaths in Nigeria from the 1950s to the unfortunate civil war in 1967 to 1970. Elsewhere in Africa, it led to the genocide in Rwanda and xenophobia in South Africa. Such should not be our fate again in Nigeria,” the statement warned.
The caucus demanded that security agencies bring to book those responsible for the hate speeches, in line with the cybercrimes act and criminal laws of the country.
“We continue to appeal to the Igbo across the country to stay away from the protests and remain law-abiding,” the statement concluded.
