Some youths identified to have threatened resident Igbos in Kaduna state have been re-approved by the state government, calling for their immediate arrest and sanctioning. This came through the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mr Samuel Aruwan, on Wednesday, who disclosed that the Kaduna State Government has obliged the Ministry of Justice to melt out punishment to reprimand the assault.
“Preparatory to prosecution, the police have been directed to immediately arrest, interrogate the signatories to the statement and investigate all the circumstances and persons that may be implicated in the matter.
The Kaduna State Government went further to assure the Igbo Community of safety in the state, urging them to ignore the threat of any vacation ultimatum from the rascals.
“The Kaduna State Government urges all residents to ignore the threats from the northern youths. We are in contact with the leadership of the Igbo community in Kaduna and are we delighted to say that this community, like all our other communities, believes in the strength of the constitutional order to protect all citizens.”
An appeal was made to the general public, encouraging residents to embrace peaceful co-existence while shunning violence and upholding good human relations.
“KDSG wishes to encourage all our people to celebrate the diversity with which the almighty God has blessed us, continue to shun agents of division, and to stand firm in upholding a common humanity. Everyone has a right to live in peace and harmony.”
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor also noted that the government has never tolerated hate speeches and will always be in the fore front to condemn it in strong terms.
“The Kaduna State Government takes exception to the fact that the so called northern youths did their irresponsible press conference in Kaduna. The government has been consistent in taking action to punish those involved in hate speeches and incitements. People who may feel unhappy about irresponsible comments or actions that have taken place in other states, must know that two wrongs cannot make a right, and they cannot use our state to do or say things that threaten the peace.
“The Kaduna State Government therefore condemns in the strongest terms the press statement released by some self-appointed ‘northern youths’ that threatened the safety and property of our citizens of Igbo extraction. We will not tolerate such irresponsible statements and conduct in our state. The statement issued by the ‘northern youths’ violates the laws of Kaduna State.”
