Boko Haram: MASSOB Probes Killing Of Igbo print

The leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazurike, has disclosed that the group is currently investigating the extent of damage and killing of Igbo in the North as a result of bombings by Islamic fundamentalist sect, the Boko Haram.

Ralph Uwazurike

Uwazurike, who spoke with P.M.NEWS this morning, said: “I have sent my men to the North to collate facts and I have not got a feedback. They are currently discussing with Igbo people in the North, especially the victims who survived the attacks. They have to be back before I can comment fully because I don’t want to speak out of context.”

However, there has been disquiet and anger in the southeast over the killings of Igbo people by the Boko Haram sect.

Some Igbo leaders who spoke to P.M.NEWS today said consultations are ongoing to hold a meeting and take a stand.

Speaking on the attacks, former Anambra State governor, Senator Chris Ngige (representing Anambra Central in the Nigerian Senate) warned that bombings by the Boko Haram sect could lead to the disintegration of Nigeria.

He described the bombings as very unsettling, with a lot of ethnic colouration, stating that the dastardly actions are fraught with danger and pregnant with a lot of interpretations.

According to Ngige, “Boko Haram is threatening the unity of Nigeria and it can lead to its disintegration.”

He added that it is very unfortunate that most of the victims are Igbo Christians who are lawfully eking their living in the north.

He charged the Presidency to take the bull by the horn, stressing that it is not a mere storm in a tea cup.

Also commenting, former Aviation Minister in the first republic, Chief Mbazuluike Amaechi said, “it is funny that the northern political leaders have not really said anything meaningful on Boko Haram bombings. Somehow the attacks have been targeted at Ndigbo in particular and southerners in general.”

Amaechi called on Igbo leaders to study and analyse the issue critically and face the challenges ahead.

Some Igbo people who spoke to P.M.NEWS in Lagos today, expressed sadness over the development.

Eze Ndigbo Lagos State, Eze Christian Nwachukwu said that even though the aim of Boko Haram is to destabilise President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, Igbo are the most affected because of their spread across the nation.

He regretted that since the bombings began, many Igbo people have been killed either in their homes, offices or places of worship.

Speaking in the same vein, the President of Igbo Speaking Community in Lagos State, Chief Ebere Ubani, said that the government has to do something urgent because it is gradually becoming a genocide against the Igbo.

He recalled that what is happening now was similar to what happened before the Nigerian civil war in 1967.

He appealed to the government to intervene to bring the matter under control.

Ndigbo leader in Mushin, Chief John Nwosu, regretted that the government is treating the matter with kid gloves.

He said Boko Haram has now changed their strategy to attack churches dominated by Igbos.

Igbo people were the main victims of the Christmas Day bombing of a Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State, where over 40 parishioners have been confirmed dead.

Several others were injured and are receiving treatment in various hospitals in Niger State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Similarly, Wednesday’s bombing of a hotel in Gombe, Gombe State, was another attack on Igbo in the North. During the attack at the hotel owned by an Igbo businessman, 15 persons were seriously injured and were hospitalised.

According to the manager of the hotel, Mr. Ojeibo Nelson, three persons came to the hotel at about 10.13 p.m. on Wednesday to detonate explosives.

Ojeibo said when they challenged the attackers, they started shooting sporadically and later succeeded in dropping the explosives.

Last month, 14 persons were killed and spare parts worth N200 million were destroyed at the motor spare parts shop at Ori Apata Ogbomosho Road area of Kaduna, Kaduna State.

Two suspected Boko Haram members riding on a motorcycle threw a bomb into a shop owned by an Igbo man, causing the damage. The victims who were Igbo traders in the affected shops died as a result of the explosion while several others were seriously injured.

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2011/12/30/boko-haram-massob-probes-killing-of-igbo/

The trend is clear that Igbo are a target but not the only target
Christianity (of which Igbos are largely) is also a target as is Jonathan's govt

Brings again to the front burner my claim of ethno-religio-political dimensions of the Boko Haram menace

All I can say is hmm, I'm not surprised however, let us wait till we see what the trend is.