Reacting to the recent influx of uncountable number of northern youths to the South East states, the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev. Anthony Obinna has called on the South East governors and Igbo leaders to embrace their duty of ensuring an adequate protection of Ndigbo from life threats.

The Archibishop lamented further, stressing that it was so unfortunate, sad and very distressing following the subjections of Ndigbo to vicious threats and acts of invasion, massacre and sack from herdsmen from the Northern part of Nigeria in such a time of fear, panic and anxiety raging by the coronavirus pandemic.

Confirming that he already spoke with Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma on the vexed issue, the aggrieved man of God said that there was need to extend the conversation to other South- East governors and other Igbo leaders.

In his speech, “the hatred against Igbos in Nigeria had already been demonstrated through Nigeria’s brutal war against Igbos who had decided to live on their own as Biafrans away from a Nigeria that has rejected them with so many merciless killings in cold blood.

“Not satisfied with defeating us in an uneven war, there is this threat to wipe out the Igbos and take over our God-given homes and lands”. In an open statement dated June 1, 2020, entitled

“Protect our People, defend our homes and lands: a charge to the Imo State Governor and other Igbo leaders”, directed to the South East governors and all Igbo leaders at various levels, Archbishop Obinna warned them against not taking the threat serious.

“Having already spoken to Governor Hope Uzodinma on these threats, I hereby publicly charge him to recognize that it is his primary duty as the chief security officer of Imo State to protect the lives of Imo people, their homes and their lands.

“Your Excellency, your voice should be loud and clear on this life and death issue. I equally charge other Igbo governors and all Igbo leaders at various levels to protect our people, our homes and our lands.

“I urge all our people to rise up in prayers to God, in vigilance and in legitimate self-defence.The right to life, to our homes and to our lands is God-given. May God our Supreme Protector and Defender come to our aid”, the Catholic Archbishop stressed.

Nwada Ugochinyere Onyechere reporting, Obinwannem News