GENEVA (25 August 2017) – An ultimatum telling Nigeria’s Igbo minority in the north of the country to flee their homes is of “grave concern”, a group of United Nations human rights experts* has warned.

The experts also deplored a hate song and audio message being circulated on the internet and on social media. The Hausa-language audio message urges northern Nigerians to destroy the property of Igbo people and kill anyone who refuses to leave by 1 October, the same date given in the ultimatum.

“We are gravely concerned about this proliferation of hate messages and incitement to violence against the Igbo and their property, especially considering the previous history of such violence,” the experts said.

“The Government must be vigilant, as hate speech and incitement can endanger social cohesion and threaten peace by deepening the existing tensions between Nigeria’s ethnic communities.”

The ultimatum was issued on 6 June 2017 during a press briefing by the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum in the city of Kaduna. It called for sustained and coordinated campaigns to remove the Igbo population from the northern region.

The human rights experts noted that some local and national figures, as well as some media representatives, had publicly denounced any form of hate speech and incitement, but said other officials still needed to follow suit.

“We are deeply concerned that some prominent local leaders and elders have not condemned the ultimatum, hate speech and the perpetrators,” the experts stressed.

“We call on the Government, media and civil society representatives, and local and religious leaders, to reject and condemn hate speech and incitement to violence unequivocally and in the strongest possible terms.”

The UN experts said any incidents of hate speech and incitement to violence had to be investigated and the perpetrators prosecuted and punished. “This includes the people behind the ultimatum and those responsible for the creation, publication and circulation of the hate song and audio message,” they added

Ojiofor:
The people that gave the genocidal quit notice are hanging out with powers that be in Abuja and are treated as patriots because it's targeted against the Igbos.

Kazim88:


That is sad...

lalasticlala.....................

Ojiofor:


Really sad indeed but calling why lalasticlala?

Kazim88:


I am calling lalasticlala to alert him that I think this thread is front-page material..

You won't understand

igbeke:
Thank goodness this age is different from 1967. News fly this days in all forms and formats. Nigeria's atrocities against the Igbo man can no longer be hidden.

How will a sane govt continue to deploy all security apparatus against peaceful protesters like IPOB and yet that same govt is openly protecting Fulani the Rapists?

I think the major reasons the North doesn't want the Igbo man to go are FEAR and JEALOUSLY. Yes, they know the incompetence of our so-called leaders with be brought to limelight once after ten years after the Igbo man's departure, the Igbo man's land is turned to a beauty to behold while Nigeria still wallows in its squalor.

Yet you see some youths who are supposed to know better and hence say enough is enough to these imperialist, calling Nnamdi Kanu names for fronting justice and equal right.
SMH

Kazim88:
Buhari is single handedly destroying Nigeria....

Backing Arewa Youths... and threatening to arrest Nnamdi Kanu.

Ojiofor:


Really sad indeed but calling why lalasticlala?

Kazim88:
Buhari is single handedly destroying Nigeria....

Backing Arewa Youths... and threatening to arrest Nnamdi Kanu.