Ohanaeze Ndigbo condemns Plateau killings, calls for restructuring, state police

Apex Igbo socio-cultural, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has condemned in its entirety the gruesome murder of over 150 people in Plateau State by gunmen.

A statement signed by Dr. Chiedozie Ogbonnia, National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo described the killing as brutish, cruel and barbaric.

Ogbonnia said the Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide received with a rude shock the horrible news of the gruesome massacre of over 150 persons from some communities in the Barkin Ladi, Mangu and Bokkos local government areas of Plateau State by gunmen on Tuesday, December 24, 2023.

“The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, is in his village, Attah, Ikeduru local government of Imo State for his Christmas holidays when he received the awful news,” Ogbonnia said.

“The Igbo Leader qualified the killing of over 150 persons, burning of houses, indiscriminate shootings and displacing of residents as an orchestrated act of genocide. He wondered why in this modern age and civilization, our country, Nigeria is still posting the brutish, cruel and barbaric news of mass killings of such magnitude.”

He said the Igbo Leader lamented that the federal government has refused to heed the Ohanaeze Ndigbo call for restructuring and state policing system as a panacea for the incessant losses of lives and property in the various states of the country.

Iwuanyanwu added that it has become very obvious that the federal security architecture has proved very ineffective for our diverse demography.

“Iwuanuanwu reiterates that such heinous and cowardly killings have persisted because in the past the perpetrators of such savage acts often go unpunished. He therefore urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to do everything possible to bring to book those behind the callous crime in Plateau State,” Ogbonnia said.

“The Igbo Leader uses this medium to direct the Igbo leadership in Plateau State to extend all forms of solidarity with the immediate families of the deceased, the displaced and the sundry victims of this catastrophe.

“Iwuanyanwu, on behalf of all the sons and daughters of Igbo sends his condolences to the governor of Plateau State, His Excellency, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang; the good people of Plateau State and the Middle Belt Forum led by Dr. Bitrus Pogu.

“The Igbo Leader prays the Almighty to grant the souls of the deceased a blissful repose in his bosom.”