UN experts: Those behind Igbo quit notice must be prosecuted

United Nations human rights experts have called for the
prosecution of those behind the ultimatum issued to the Igbo to
leave the north by October 1.

On June 6, some northern youth groups led by Arewa Consultative
Forum asked the Igbo to leave the region within three months. The
groups also threatened to take over the property of the Igbo in the
north.

But they withdrew the ultimatum last Thursday; a few days after
President Muhammadu Buhari declared that Nigerians were free to
live anywhere in the country.

The experts, Mutuma Ruteere, special rapporteur on contemporary
forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
intolerance; Fernand de Varennes, special rapporteur on minority
issues, and Anastasia Crickley, chairperson of the committee on the
elimination of racial discrimination, described the ultimatum as a
“grave concern”.

They also deplored a hate song and audio message being
circulated on the internet and on social media targeting the
Igbo.

According to a statement issued by the experts, 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,” they 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 human rights experts said though some local and national
figures, as well as some media representatives had publicly
denounced any form of hate speech and incitement, 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 said.

“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.

United Nations human rights experts have called for the
prosecution of those behind the ultimatum issued to the Igbo to
leave the north by October 1.

On June 6, some northern youth groups led by Arewa Consultative
Forum asked the Igbo to leave the region within three months. The
groups also threatened to take over the property of the Igbo in the
north.

But they withdrew the ultimatum last Thursday; a few days after
President Muhammadu Buhari declared that Nigerians were free to
live anywhere in the country.

The experts, Mutuma Ruteere, special rapporteur on contemporary
forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
intolerance; Fernand de Varennes, special rapporteur on minority
issues, and Anastasia Crickley, chairperson of the committee on the
elimination of racial discrimination, described the ultimatum as a
“grave concern”.

They also deplored a hate song and audio message being
circulated on the internet and on social media targeting the
Igbo.

According to a statement issued by the experts, 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,” they 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 human rights experts said though some local and national
figures, as well as some media representatives had publicly
denounced any form of hate speech and incitement, 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 said.

“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.