The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide on Wednesday condemned the arrest of the Chairman of Innoson Group, Innocent Chukwuma by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), describing it as an attack against the Igbo nation.
The group in a statement by its Secretary General, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, and Vice President, Obinna Achionye, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to order the immediate and unconditional release of the automobile manufacturer.
They threatened to mobilise Igbo youths and youths of other ethnic nationalities to embark on a national protest in Enugu, Lagos and Abuja to protest against the arrest, warning that the anti-graft body was indirectly trying to plunge the nation into avoidable crisis.
"This is the highest level of impunity against Igbo nation and another plot to cripple the economic fortunes of Ndigbo and Igbo youths will mount Pressure to Ndigbo to withdraw their money from GT Bank if our investigation shows that GT bank is intimidating one of the respected son of igbo land," they warned.
Meanwhile, the Igbo Elders under the aegis of Igbo Leaders of Thought raised alarm that the arrest was causing ripples all over Igbo land insisting that any attempt to ridicule Ndigbo in Nigeria will be stoutly resisted.
In a statement issued by the Deputy Secretary General of Igbo Leaders of Thought, Elliot Uko who doubles as the Founder of Igbo Youth Movement, the elders warned that they would not continue to fold their arms while Igbo people are treated with disdain.
"The power-show displayed on Tuesday in Enugu by EFCC’s Magu is a loud statement to the Igbo Nation that we are perceived as slaves in Nigeria.
Sources close to Innoson confirms there was no earlier invitation, nor notice by the EFCC, before Tuesday’s Invasion.
"The raw display of brute force by the EFCC, the empty shells of expended bullets thrown all over the compound, is a sad reminder that in Nigeria, Easterners remain second class citizens.
"Will Magu abduct Aliko Dangote that way? The total disregard for the ongoing court actions and a resort to military era abductions confirm to all, that Ndigbo remain endangered species in Nigeria.
"The greatest employer of labour in Igbo land and a genius who has transformed the economic landscape of this clime, in the area of automobile manufacturing, is abducted in a humiliating manner at his residence in Enugu, ostensibly over issues with a bank, issues which lawyers are handling. This is a loud message to the people of Eastern Nigeria of our status in Nigeria.
"Everybody knows, Aliko Dangote cannot be abducted that way over issues wish a commercial bank.
The owners of Nigeria keep reminding the people of Eastern region, that, they are not wanted in Nigeria," the statement noted.
Uko said an emergency meeting of Eastern consultative Assembly where he serves as Secretary holds this week to deliberate "on this humiliation on a leading light in our land" Ends
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