Ethnicization of EndSARS protest
Last week, as the EndSARS protests began to fizzle out in the confusion of the alleged Lekki massacre, something more sinister began to bubble up as the agents of destruction used the opportunity to turn the protest into an inter-tribal war. Specifically, two agents of anarchy explicitly stirred trouble by calling on their followers to […]
Protest at Lekki toll gate turned deadly amidst allegations that soldiers shot at civilians
Last week, as the EndSARS protests began to fizzle out in the confusion of the alleged Lekki massacre, something more sinister began to bubble up as the agents of destruction used the opportunity to turn the protest into an inter-tribal war.
Specifically, two agents of anarchy explicitly stirred trouble by calling on their followers to attack people of other ethnicities.
Speaking in a video message to Igbos in the Southwest, Adeyinka Grandson said they should leave the Southwest by Monday, October 26, 2020.
However, the more deadly call to arms came from Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Immediately, thereafter, the Hausa and other members of northern communities in the south were attacked.
While calling for an end to the attacks, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), in a statement issued to journalists in Kaduna signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Yawe, said it received a report from the chairman of ACF in Rivers State, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Tudunwada, that their people living in Rivers and Abia states have been held hostage by members of the banned IPOB and appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to save their lives. He confirmed the report, noting that the casualty figures had increased from the 30 earlier sent to the ACF headquarters.
In Lagos State, the Arewa community in Fabga area of Ifako Ijaye Local Government Area alleged that they had lost 17 people to the #EndSARS protest.
Alhaji Modu Tom, youth leader of cattle traders at Oko-Oba cattle market, told this newspaper that some protesters attacked seven of their cattle trucks that were on their way to the cattle market on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 and set them ablaze.
Additionally, 26 people selling onions in Orlu market of Imo State had to be rescued to the state capital after being attacked by #EndSARS protesters in the state.
The Sarkin Hausawan Owerri, Alhaji Suleiman Ibrahim Suleiman, said the protesters also burnt their mosque. Similar reports of attacks were reported in Abia.
In a commendable move to stop the killings, however, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has tasked the 23 council chairmen and youths in the state to fish out members of the proscribed IPOB in the state or risk being sacked. Some Southeast governors have also condemned the attacks. But the northern communities have cried out that what the state governments can do is limited and called upon the federal government to intervene.
We, therefore, call on southern leaders to do more than condemning the attacks. The attackers must be punished and victims compensated.
It is also noteworthy that the IPOB leader has been issuing out orders to his followers to attack other innocent Nigerians. This must be stopped at all cost in the interest of the nation. We cannot afford to worsen the fragile situation we are in through the reckless pronouncements of some disgruntled elements.
Interestingly, both Nnamdi Kanu and Adeyinka Grandson are based in the UK. They use their sanctuary in the UK, a supposedly friendly country, to issue directives that cause and are capable of causing further problems in Nigeria. And they have been doing that apparently unchallenged for some time now. It is time the relevant authorities in UK had a firm word with the two about their utterances and activities from the UK; and the Nigerian government must take steps to engage the UK government in that direction.
Media organisations must also act in a professional way to stem the tide by ensuring that their reports do not further worsen the precarious situation we have found ourselves in.
Nigerians must come together and end the anarchy once and for all.