South-east n’assembly caucus: Ethnic profiling of Igbos must stop

The south-east caucus of the national assembly says an alleged ethnic profiling of the Igbo in Lagos and other places in the south-west must be stopped.

The caucus said even though the south-east geo-political zone has largely not participated in the nationwide protest, the Igbo have been targeted.

The south-east legislators were responding to a post on X that gave the Igbo a one-month ultimatum to relocate their businesses from Lagos and south-west.

In a statement on Friday, Enyinnaya Abaribe and Igariwey Enwo, leaders of the south-east caucus in the senate and house of representatives, said the “ethnic profiling” must stop.

“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,” the statement reads.

“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.

“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.”

They asked Igbo across the country to remain law-abiding and not join the protest.