The socio-political group, Ndigbo Youth Parliament (NYP), has bemoaned the incessant attacks and killings of Nigerians, especially “innocent Ndigbo in their own ancestral home by suspected armed herdsmen”.
In statement made available to newsmen Saturday, signed by the Speaker of Ndigbo Youth Parliament (NYP), Rt. Hon. Rikki Nwajiofor, the group condemned the unabated attacks and killings going on in Igbo-speaking states, orchestrated by suspected armed herdsmen.
Nwajiofor commiserated with families of citizens that were slain in Nsukka and Ebonyi state, respectively, by suspected herdsmen, even as he berated the Governor of Enugu state “for his utter silence in the presence of such a heinous act in his state”.
He added that Ndigbo Youths can no longer fold their arms and watch intruders invade their ancestral homes to murder their people, even as he gave ultimatum to the Governors and the State House of Assembly in all the Igbo speaking states to urgently enact anti open grazing law or face mass protests from Ndigbo Youths, “which will be worse than #EndSARS protest”.
The statement reads: “I condemn, in its entirety, the incessant attacks of the armed herdsmen in Igbo speaking states and Nigeria at large. These unabated attacks often result to gruesome murder and heartless maiming of innocent citizens in their ancestral homes. Helpless farmers are murdered in their farms and innocent citizens are sent to early graves while in their sleep. This is highly condemnable and can no longer be condoned.
“I wish to condole with the families of all those who lost their lives in the hands of the enemies of peace- the armed herdsmen. Such bereavement comes with excruciating pain and the scars left behind are indelible. We ask the Almighty God to heal the wounds in your heart and grant you the fortitude to bear the irreparable losses as we hope that the souls of the slain will find rest in the bosom of the Lord.
“It is quite heartrending that those we elected to lead us and watch over us, as the Chief Security Officers of our states, have abandoned us to our fate. It is quite appalling and inhumane for the Governor of Enugu state, Rt. Hon. Ugwuanyi, to keep mute in the presence of such heinous act perpetrated in his state and worst still in his Nsukka homestead. How do we explain this? What is the silence for? Is he not perturbed by the devilish activities of these heartless armed herdsmen? This is a clear indication that Enugu state is helpless, security-wise.
“I wish to let the world know that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! Ndigbo Youth are not weaklings neither are we cowards. We are simply youths of honour, who believe in the sanctity of human life and in the sacrosanct nature of human blood. However, you cannot beat a child and ask him not to cry. You cannot push a man to the wall and expect him not to bounce back. It is only a tree that knows it will be cut down and it still stands where it is planted, without doing anything. As Ndigbo Youth, we can no longer fold our arms and watch marauders invade our ancestral homes and murder our people, unabated. No ethnic group has a monopoly of violence! It will no longer be condoned!”
He added: “Since our elected political elites have sold their birthrights and consciences for a plate of porridge, seeking political recognition for 2023 and abandoned us to our fate, we shall take our fate in our hands and defend ourselves by all means. We have been law abiding and have been working assiduously for the unity of this nation, but all we get in return is utter marginalization and unwarranted attacks by armed herdsmen. Our farmers can no longer go to farms as the armed herdsmen have taken over our farmlands, forcefully. It is time to resist and uproot the marauders and enemies of a peaceful Nigeria.
“Nigeria does not belong to a particular set of people; Nigeria belongs to all of us and no one can subdue Ndigbo Youth. No one can sit on our heads and balance well. If our elected government cannot save our lives, we shall save our lives in our own way!
“Ndigbo Youth are giving all the Governors, and the state house of Assembly, of all the Igbo speaking states an ultimatum to urgently enact Anti Open Grazing Law in their various states. This ultimatum has a time frame of 3 months. If in the next 3 months there is no enacted law prohibiting open grazing in all the Igbo speaking states, there will be a heavy protest by all Ndigbo Youth across the states. This time, the protest will be more demanding and worse than End SARS protest.
“Failure to enact a law prohibiting open grazing will be a clear indication to Ndigbo Youth that you all have sold us out and no longer care for the safety of our lives and the lives of our parents. In that case, we shall be left with no option than to take laws into our hands. Do not dare the Youth any longer; ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!”
