NIGERIA BOMB BLASTS: Give Weapons To Igbos For Self Defence - Ex Governor

Former governor of the old Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, on Wednesday, called on the Federal Government to immediately equip the Igbo people with weapons to defend themselves against aggression and their wanton killings in the Northern part of the country.

Apparently referring to the recent bombings of buses carrying Igbo traders to Lagos allegedly by the Boko Haram sect in Kano, Ezeife said that the government should forget about the warning to the Igbo against carrying arms and other self defence equipment, but must now recognize the special needs of the Igbo in Northern Nigeria to defend themselves.

He said that the President, Police, Army and other security agencies should now clearly understand and fully accept the compelling need for the Igbo to be in a position to defend themselves anywhere they are in large numbers.

Should the Federal Government refuse to hearken to the urgent call, the ex-Governor admonished the Igbo to personally and/ or collectively acquire whatever they need for group self defence . “as it is better for the Igbo to be charged with carrying guns than to be killed with insult”.

Ezeife however cautioned that the weapons so acquired by the Igbo for self defence must not be put to offensive use and reiterated that nobody or group of persons should feel intimidatedthat the Igbo equip themselves for group self defence.

The practical way to implement this, according to him, was the creation of special vigilante or security groups which would be adequately equipped to prevent attacks and deal with attacks they cannot prevent so that the people could help themselves.

News Source: Nigerian Tribune