Apex Igbo cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has debunked what it called another misinformation issued by the South East Muslim Organization of Nigeria (SEMON) and the Igbo Muslim Forum alleging the killing of Igbo Muslims in Igbo land.
A statement signed by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emeka Attamah, said the organization finds ceaseless insinuations that the Igbo are against Muslims or the North very worrisome because of their grave socio-cultural and religious implications for the nation.
It said the truth is that there has never been any report of even harassment let alone killing of any Muslim made to any group or government, saying, “No such report has ever been received. The Igbo are law-abiding and recognize and respect the freedom of religion enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.
“From inception till date, Islam and Muslims of Ala-Igbo have maintained peaceful co-existence and its presence has not endangered the well-being of Ndigbo”.
It further said that the allegation of two mosques being destroyed at Nsukka is another bundle of lies. There was an altercation, not religious intolerance or aggression which has since been resolved.
“The rapidity at which these baseless and unfounded allegations about the Igbo hating the North is becoming redoubtable and alarming and is suggestive of a clandestine gang up to discredit the Igbo and make them unacceptable to the North in the build-up to the 2023 presidential election.
“Ndigbo cannot antagonize anybody from any part of the country knowing full well that they are more itinerant and settle in all parts of the country than any other ethnic group. Ndigbo has always been hospitable and accommodating hosts to their visitors and cannot change overnight”, it stated.
