IGBO QUIT NOTICE: Despite withdrawal, Kaduna govt gets warrant, may arrest Arewa youths soon

Despite the withdrawal of the October 1, 2017 deadline for Igbos in the North to quit or be forced out of the region, the Arewa youths who gave the order may finally be arrested as Kaduna State government on Thursday said it had secured a bench warrant from the court to arrest them.

A coalition of northern groups including the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum led by Shettima Yerima had in July ordered all Igbos living in the 19 Northern states to within three months vacate the region or be forced out after October 1, 2017.

The youth group had also instructed all northerners living in the South-East to return to the North.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai as well as the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, had then ordered for the arrest of the leaders of the group who signed the order.

However, none of them was arrested. After several meetings with the Northern Governors Forum and some other Nigerians, the notice was withdrawn.

But despite the withdrawal of the order, Kaduna State government said it has got a bench warrant from court to arrest those behind the quit notice.

Governor El-Rufai’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, who made the disclosure during a press conference at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, Kaduna, assured Nigerians of all tribes living in the state that they had nothing to fear.

Aruwan said on the issuers of the quit notice who “carpet-bagged into Kaduna to threaten the liberty of other citizens,” Aruwan said, “The government has obtained bench warrants for their arrest, after filing a formal criminal complaint.”

He then said, “The Kaduna State Government notes with commendation the efforts of the residents of our diverse state to uphold peace in their communities. The government and the security agencies are working to prevent any threat to this cherished harmony.

“Vigorous security patrols will continue as part of concrete action to reassure residents and demonstrate that bad behaviour is unwelcome and will not be tolerated. When some elements barged into our state capital to deliver an illegal ultimatum to a section of our community, the government condemned it and ordered the arrest of those concerned.

“The Kaduna State Government followed up with a formal criminal complaint to the police, and has obtained a bench warrant against them. Therefore, anybody that sights them or is aware of their location should proudly discharge the civic duty of informing the police.

Read also: Lai unhappy with US refusal to accept IPOB as terrorist group

“The criminal complaint specifies the sections of the recently updated Penal Code Law of Kaduna State, 2017 that were violated by those that issued the illegal ultimatum.

The Penal Code Law according to him include, inciting disturbance,​​ Section 78; disturbing public peace, ​​Section 77; injurious falsehood, ​​Section 373; unlawful assembly, Section 66; criminal conspiracy, Section 59.

He added, “The formal criminal complaint and the bench warrant secured on 8th August 2017 provides a basis to investigate, apprehend and ultimately prosecute the suspects.

“Accordingly, a competent court has directed the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, to act on the criminal complaint. The Kaduna State Government considers this a most important matter of law enforcement, and will not relent on the matter.

“Anybody contemplating unlawful action should know that such will invite vigorous law-enforcement response. The Kaduna State Government is persuaded that a law-governed society should always signal that sanctions will follow illegal behaviour. This is in the interest of justice, peace and harmony.

“All residents of Kaduna State are enjoined to go about their lawful business, uphold and respect their neighbours and report any suspicious activity or person. Nobody has the power to evict another citizen or to tell them where they can or cannot live.”

The leaders of the youth group who signed the notice were Nastura Ashir Sharif (Arewa Citizens Action for Change); Amb. ShettimaYerima (Arewa Youth Consultative Forum); Aminu Adam (Arewa Youth Development Foundation); Alfred Solomon (Arewa Students Forum); Abdul-Azeez Suleiman (Northern Emancipation Network) and Joshua Viashman (Northern Youth Vanguard).

By Ebere Ndukwu …

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now