The South-East Caucus of the National Assembly has condemned the ethnic profiling of the Igbo people of the South-East for choosing not to join the ongoing nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests against hardship and hunger in the country.

The south east group of lawmakers described the development as dangerous and unfortunate, stressing that it was such act that led to the civil war in Nigeria and other uprisings across the country where Ndigbo were killed.

The caucus explained that the decision of the Igbo to abstain from the protests was based on advisory from the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, governors of South-Eastern states, Parliamentarians, and business leader and elders from the zone.

The Caucus was responding to several statements such as the ‘Igbo Must Go’ and call by a certain ‘Lagospedia’ X (Twitter) handle and videos seen online threatening genocide against the Igbo in Lagos and the south west.

In a statement jointly signed by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Leader of the South-East Senate Caucus of the National Assembly) and Rt. Hon. Igariwey Iduma Enwo (Leader of the South-East Caucus of the House of Representatives), on Friday, the Caucus said:

“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.

“For the records, the Igbo nation, in obedience to the advice of their leaders- Governors, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, parliamentarians and others in the private sector – had taken a reasoned and strategic decision not to participate in the on-going nationwide protests. This is evident in the relative calm experienced in the five South Eastern states.

“We are, therefore, surprised and disappointed, that Igbos are still made scapegoats, and targeted as instigators of protests, as shown in several statements (such as the Igbo Must Go hashtag and call by a certain ‘Lagospedia’ X(Twitter) handle) and videos seen online.

This dangerous ethnic profiling is unwarranted, and must stop.

 “It was such profiling that led to the millions of deaths in Nigeria from the 1950’s 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.

“We demand therefore that the security agencies bring to book the purveyors of these hate speeches in line with the cybercrimes act and criminal laws of the country.

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