Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), the youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has urged the Nigerian government to speedily grant the Eastern Security Network (ESN) amnesty and recruit them into mainstream community vigilante network.
The Igbo youth group which made the request in a press statement signed by its President, Igboayaka O. Igboayaka noted that Nigeria has reached its peak of insecurity and stressed that the best and workable antidote to the insecurity in the South East is to grant amnesty to the Eastern Security Network, ESN.
Ohanaeze youths also advised governors of Igbo extraction to immediately initiate an amnesty programme with the Nigerian government for members of the ESN to save Igbo land from an alleged foreseen doom waiting to befall Igbo land and Nigeria at large.
The Igbo group further warned the governors against any unjust treatment or military confrontation against members of the ESN and IPOB in any manner, insisting that it may lead to agitations against them by Igbo youths and Ndigbo at large.
The OYC called on the Directorate of State Services (DSS) to advise the government and governors of Igbo extraction to move into action on the above solution for a workable ethnic reintegration, harmony, peace and sustainable cohabitation among all ethnic nationalities in Nigeria.
The statement partly read: “Nigeria has definitely reached its climax in ethnic crisis as a result of the movement of Fulani herdsmen criminal activities all over the country, with the crisis in Northern Nigeria as a result of bandits, kidnappers and Boko Haram terrorists including reports of Fulani herdsmen clash in the West. If more confrontation of the military against pro-Biafrans and Eastern Security Network continues, it will not just break up Nigeria but the crisis will become uncontrollable.
“If ESN has gone against the law of Nigeria by carrying arms, the bandits have also gone against the law by also carrying arms, therefore, the Governors of Igbo extraction should negotiate with ESN/IPOB and treat them the way Northern governors are treating Bandits by negotiating with them to drop their arms. What’s good for the goose is also good for the gander. The youths of Hausa/Fulani who engage in banditry and the youths in Igbo land who engage in self-defence through Eastern Security Network and self-determination struggle must be treated equally with utmost carefulness.
“Nigerian government should quickly approve a compulsory community Vigilante Security Network in all communities in Nigeria to complement the efforts of federal security agents”.