The apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has expressed concerns over the influx of Northern youth to the South-East.
The group said it was unfortunate that while President Muhammadu Buhari President had drafted the army to stop the invasion of bandits in Katsina, the “President and the entire security look away from this continuous movement of people to the South.”
President-General of the group, John Nwodo, made the remarks while speaking with.
Nwodo disclosed that vehicles belonging to the companies of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, had become notorious in transporting Northern youth to the South..
He said the group had tried to draw Dangote’s attention to the issue however, nothing appears to have changed.
He said, “Lots of trailers from the North are carrying tons of able-body young men who have no place of habitation, no legitimate business of engagement and coming down here in great proportion.
“It is interesting that this is coming at the same time neighbouring youths in Katsina State from outside Nigeria have invaded Katsina and had clashes with the local community and the President has drafted the army to go and engage them however, the President and the entire security look away from this continuous movement of people to the South.”
Nwodo said the influx of the Northern youth worries people in the South because of past threats made by Boko Haram against the region and recent issues of kidnapping.
He added, “Northern governors have also taken a resolution banning the movement of almajiri within their states and they order that all almajiri should be returned to their home state.
“The social media is awash by tons of news, some I’m sure are not authentic, some are authentic however, they all point to the fact that we're all witnesses of this impunity. Not too long ago, Boko Haram boasted that they are going to start a war from the South-East and South-South.
“We're all witnesses of the invasion of the west after the murder of Chief Fasoranti’s daughter and several kidnappings along Lagos and Ibadan and Ondo. We're beginning to get worried and we've spoken out and have called on the Federal Government to address the situation.
“We're being as vigilant and trying to turn back as several (Northern youth). We've made a representation to Alhaji Aliko Dangote whose vehicles have become notorious in the transportation of these youth, in case he is not aware of what is happening. I do hope you use your medium to express our profound dissatisfaction about what is happening and readiness to defend ourselves if the government fails to intervene.”