Northern Youths Declare War On
Igbos In The North, Ask Them To
‘Leave’ Within Three Months
Some Northern Nigeria youth groups on
Tuesday in Kaduna issued what they called
a 'Kaduna Declaration' in which they
declared “war” against all Igbos residing in
the North, demanding they leave the area
within three months. They also asked
Northerners in the South-East to leave the
area, warning that as from October 1,
which happens to be Nigeria’s National
Day, they will commence implementation
of ‘visible actions’ to prove they are no
longer part of a federal union that includes
the Igbo.
The groups that signed the declaration include
Arewa Citizens Action for Change, Arewa Youth
Consultative Forum, Arewa Youth Development
Foundation, Arewa Students Forum and Northern
Emancipation Network, but it is unclear if known
officials of any of the groups actually signed the
document.
They cite as reason for their decision the pro-
Biafran activities of some Igbo, centred around the
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), saying their
latest action and similar confrontational conducts
“amount to a brutal encroachment on the rights of
those termed as non-indigenous people residing
and doing lawful businesses in those areas
illegally demarcated and defined as Biafra by the
Igbo.”
The groups held that their conclusion is
“necessitated by the realization that it since
ceased to be comfortable or safe to continue
sharing the same country with the ungrateful,
uncultured Igbos who have exhibited reckless
disrespect for the other federating units and
stained the integrity of the entire nation with their
insatiable criminal obsessions.”
They said that rather than certain sections
holding the whole country to ransom at every
stage, each should be allowed to go its own way.
They warned the government that as from October
1, they will embark on what they called “peaceful
and safe mop-up of all the remnants of the
stubborn Igbos that neglect to heed this quit
notice,” towards “finally eject them from every part
of the North.”
The federal government had issued no response
as of the time of this report.
Below is the text of the declaration:
THE KADUNA DECLARATION BEING A JOINT POSITION
PAPER ISSUED BY THE AREWA CITIZENS ACTION FOR
CHANGE, AREWA YOUTH CONSULTATIVE FORUM, AREWA
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, AREWA STUDENTS
FORUM AND NORTHERN EMANCIPATION NETWORK ON
THE IGBO PERSISTENCE FOR SECESSION
June 06, 2017
PREAMBLE
The persistence for the actualization of Biafra by the
unruly Igbo of South-Eastern Nigeria has lately
assumed another alarming twist which involved the
forceful lockdown of activities and denial of other
people's right to free movement in the South-East by
the rebel Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its
overt and covert sponsors.
This latest action and similar confrontational conducts
which amount to a brutal encroachment on the rights
of those termed as non-indigenous people residing
and doing lawful businesses in those areas illegally
demarcated and defined as Biafra by the Igbo, are
downright unacceptable and shall no longer be
tolerated.
OBSERVATIONS
Concerned by this persistent Igbo threat to national
integration, the above-namedPan-northern groups met
with several others and reviewed the current position
of the North and jointly came up with the following
observations:
1. IGBO PROVOCATION
a. The Igbo people of the South-East, without remorse
for the carnage they wrought on the nation in the
1960s, are today boldly reliving those sinister
intentions connoted by the Biafran agitation that led to
the very first bloody insurrection in Nigeria's history.
b. Emboldened by the apparent indifference of the
Nigerian authorities, the Igbo secessionist tendency is
widening in scope and action at every stage, with
adverse effects on the law-abiding people of other
regions residing in or passing through the East, while
the Igbo leaders and elders by their utterances and
direct action or inaction appear to support and
encourage it.
c. This is happening irrespective of the undisputable
fact that:
i. The cruel Igbos have done and are doing more
damage to our collective nationhood than any other
ethnic group; being responsible for the first violent
interference with democracy in Nigeria resulting in a
prolonged counter-productive chain of military
dictatorship.
ii. The Igbos similarly orchestrated the first, and so
far, the only civil war in Nigeria that consumed
millions of lives and sowed the seed of the current
mutual suspicion and distrust.
iii. The Igbos are also responsible for Nigeria's
cultural and moral degeneracy with their notorious
involvement in all kinds of crimes, including
international networking for drug and human
trafficking, violent robberies and kidnappings, high-
profile prostitution and advanced financial fraud.
iv. At the peak of the devastating Boko Haram
violence in some parts of the North, available records
show that the Igbo people have variously been
apprehended while attempting to convey catches of
dangerous arms and ammunition to the troubled
regions.
v. There are today sufficient reasons to suspect that
some Igbos masquerade as Fulani herdsmen to
commit violent atrocities across the country in order
to cause and spread ethnic disaffection.
vi. It is also on record that since the inception of the
current democratic dispensation, the Igbos have
shown and maintained open contempt and resentment
for the collective decision expressed by majority of
Nigerians at various stages via generally acceptable
democratic processes.
2. DOCILE NORTHERN RESPONSE
a. While these provocative acts of aggression persist
and grow in dimension with each new move, leaders
of the North whose people are at the receiving end of
the threats, appear helplessly unperturbed.
b. Rather than endorsing a concise framework for
pre-emptive action to protect and safeguard the
interest of the North and its people, leaders of the
region at every stage tend to seek the cover of a
flimsy and long-discarded excuse of having fought in
the 60s to keep Nigeria united.
c. Without pursuing a resolute action-plan, these
northern leaders have adopted and have been
dragging its people into a pitifully pacifist position in
order tosustain an elusive national cohesion that has
long been ridiculed by the Igbos.
OUR STAND
1. From today, June 6, 2017, when this proclamation
is signed, the North, a critical player in the Nigerian
project, hereby declares that it will no longer be
disposed to coexisting with the Igbos and shall take
definite steps to end the partnership by pulling out of
the current federal arrangement.
2. This conclusion is necessitated by the realization
that it since ceased to be comfortable or safe to
continue sharing the same country with the
ungrateful, uncultured Igbos who have exhibited
reckless disrespect for the other federating units and
stained the integrity of the entire nation with their
insatiable criminal obsessions.
3. Rather than certain sections holding the whole
country to ransom at every stage, each should be
allowed to go its own way as we categorically
proclaim today that the North is fed up with being the
same country with this pack of acrimonious Igbo
partners.
4. The North hereby openly calls on the authorities
and other national and international stakeholders to
acknowledge this declaration by taking steps to
facilitate the final dissolution of this hopeless union
that has never been convenient to any of the parties.
PRELUDE TO FINAL SEPARATION
1. RECOVERY AND CONTROL OF LANDED PROPERTY
As a first step, since the Igbo have clearly abused the
unreciprocated hospitality that gave them unrestricted
access to, and ownership of landed properties all over
the North, our first major move shall be to reclaim,
assume and assert sole ownership and control of
these landed resources currently owned, rented or in
any way enjoyed by the ingrate Igbos in any part of
Northern Nigeria.
Consequently, officials of the signatory groups to this
declaration, are already mandated to commence
immediate inventory of all properties, spaces or
activity in the north currently occupied by the
Igbos for forfeiture at the expiration of the ultimatum
contained in this declaration.
In specific terms, the groups are directed to compile
and forward an up-to-date data of all locations
occupied by any Igbo in any part of Northern Nigeria
including schools, markets, shops, workshops,
residences and every other activity spaces.
2. RELOCATION NOTICE
Secondly, with the effective date of this declaration,
which is today, Tuesday, June 06, 2017, all Igbos
currently residing in any part of Northern Nigeria are
hereby served notice to relocate within three
months and all northerners residing in the East are
advised likewise.
3. ENFORCEMENT
All northern civil society and pressure groups are by
this declaration mandated to mobilize for
sustained, coordinated campaigns at their respective
State Government Houses, State Houses of Assembly,
Local Government Council Secretariats, and
Traditional Palaces to mount pressure for steps to be
taken to ensure enforcement of the directives
contained herein.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, we are hereby placing the Nigerian
authorities and the entire nation on notice that as
from the 1st October 2017, we shall commence the
implementation of visible actions to prove to the
whole world that we are no longer part of any federal
union that should do with the Igbos.
From that date, effective, peaceful and safe mop-up of
all the remnants of the stubborn Igbos that neglect to
heed this quit notice shall commence to finally eject
them from every part of the North.
And finally, all authorities, individuals or groups are
hereby advised against attempting to undermine this
declaration by insisting on this union with the Igbos
who have thus far proved to be an unnecessary
baggage carried too far and for too long.
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