National Assembly South East Caucus condemns ethnic profiling of Igbos amid protests

The South East caucus of the National Assembly (NASS) has condemned the alleged ethnic profiling of Igbos during ongoing protests across Nigeria.

On Friday, August 2, the caucus called on security agencies to identify and prosecute those responsible for spreading hate messages in accordance with the Cybercrimes Act and other relevant laws.

In a statement issued in Abuja, by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the Leader of the South East Senate Caucus, and Rt. Hon. Igariwey Iduma Enwo, the Leader of the South East Caucus of the House of Representatives, the caucus expressed concern over the targeting of Igbos amidst the protests.

“The attention of the South East Caucus of the National Assembly has been drawn to the unfortunate and dangerous ethnic profiling of Igbos in the ongoing mass protests across the country,” the statement read.

The caucus emphasized that the Igbo community, guided by their leaders including governors, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, parliamentarians, and others, had decided not to partake in the protests, a fact reflected in the relative calm in the five South Eastern states.

“We are, therefore, surprised and disappointed that Igbos are still being scapegoated and targeted as instigators of protests, as evidenced by various statements, such as the ‘Igbo Must Go’ hashtag and calls from a certain ‘Lagospedia’ X (Twitter) handle, and videos circulating online,” the statement continued.

The caucus denounced this ethnic profiling as dangerous and reminiscent of past tragedies. “This dangerous ethnic profiling is unwarranted and must stop. It was such profiling that led to the millions of deaths in Nigeria from the 1950s to the unfortunate civil war in 1967 to 1970. Elsewhere in Africa, it led to the genocide in Rwanda and the xenophobia in South Africa. Such should not be our fate again in Nigeria.”

The South East caucus demanded that security agencies act against those spreading hate speeches in line with the Cybercrimes Act and other criminal laws. They also appealed to the Igbo community to avoid involvement in the protests and to remain law-abiding.

“We continue to appeal to Igbos across the country to stay away from the protests and remain law-abiding,” the statement concluded.