The Council of Elders, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has resolved to petition President Muhammadu Buhari over the profiling of Igbo in Lagos State since the commencement of the 2023 general election.
It said it would send a protest letter to the National Assembly and other relevant agencies over attacks on Igbo in Lagos.
Ohaneze disclosed this in a communique it issued after the Elders in Council Virtual Meeting held on Wednesday in Enugu, signed by the Chairman, Council of Elders, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; Secretary General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ambassador Okey Emuchay; and others.
According to them, they will formally petition the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces to express their sadness and disappointment over the unfortunate development.
They said that a high powered Igbo delegation would be sent to Lagos to meet with some Leaders of Lagos State with a view to establishing a lasting cordial and peaceful relationship between the Igbo and the Yoruba in Lagos.
The elders added that they had directed the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in association with the Council of Elders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to set up an enquiry to carry out full investigation into the killings and destruction of property of Igbos in Lagos.
The communique said: “Amongst other terms of reference, the report must indicate: the number of Igbos killed, number of Igbos injured and hospitalized, number of Igbos permanently incapacitated.
“The report shall include the comprehensive report of Igbo assets and property destroyed including the burning of market.”
The elders further said the Ohanaeze Ndigbo would ensure that all perpetrators of the criminal activities were brought to book and adequate reparation/compensations paid to the victims.
According to them, the elders have resolved that Ndigbo will no longer fold their hands and watch their kit and kin humiliated, brutalised and killed.
“Based on the foregoing, the Council of Elders directed Ohanaeze Ndigbo to set up an Emergency Telephone Line where Igbos in Lagos who are victimized because of their Igbo origin will report,” they added.
They said the meeting was convened to review the painful and agonising experiences of Igbo in Lagos during the general election.
The group said during the election, innocent Igbos resident in Lagos who came out as patriotic Nigerians to cast their votes were assaulted, brutalised and some were reported to have been killed in the process by some miscreants and thugs recruited by some desperate politicians.
The communique said: “These unpatriotic Nigerians destroyed properties belonging to the Igbo, for example, a whole market was burnt. Information available to us reveal that they are still threatening the lives of Igbos and their property in Lagos State.”
The Elders said the meeting critically reviewed the Igbo experiences in Nigeria and unanimously agreed that Igbos since the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914 have remained committed towards the peace, progress and economic development of Nigeria.