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From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Enugu
Piqued by the recent massacre of youths at Awomama, Imo State by operatives whose identity has become a subject of controversy, the United Igbo Elders’ Forum has cautioned Ndigbo to be mindful of what it called evil hurricane targeted to hunt the Igbo down.
The Elders said the unfortunate episodes that have befallen the Igbo nation in recent times call for cooperative spirit to handling it.
They therefore, demanded joint efforts of governors of Igbo extraction, Igbo elders, leaders of thought and “our mothers in agony for the pollution in our land,” on a round table to plan on how to protect the people of the region whom they were leading.
In a statement signed by Justice Alpha Ikpeama and Dr. Harford Ugwu, national coordinator and acting national publicity secretary respectively, the forum expressed deep sorrow and sympathised with the families and loved ones of victims of the unfortunate incident, calling on security agencies to uncover the culprits.
“We therefore, call on the security operatives to live no stone unturned, in their investigations, to uncover the culprits of this abominable and atrocious Awomama massacre. We want the truth to be brought to book. We appeal to the youths, our mothers in agony, fathers in distress, perplexed leaders and all concerned, to please not resort to jungle justice as two wrongs can never make a right.
“We must not continue to act as if we are different entities. God shall help us to rise as one family that we are, to be our brother’s keeper. If any member of the family is oppressed, the others may be sorrowfully touched to rise for the rescue. It will be expedient if we can, from now, strive to pull our resources together in unity as Ndigbo, to stand with any member in distress.”
