Ndigbo have been warned against avenging the dastard terrorist attack on the Sabon Gari Bus Station attack in Kano that claimed over 60 of their kinsmen on Monday night.

The Igbo Youth Movement (IYM) suggested in a statement made available to News Express in Umuahia today that proactive security measures should be evolved to safeguard public places and business interests.

President of IYM, Elliot Uko, who endorsed the statement, maintained that any form of retaliation would aid the terrorists in achieving their goal of setting Nigeria on fire and advised Ndigbo to remain calm.

The statement reads in part: “It has become necessary for the Igbo Youth Movement to sound a note of warning to individuals and groups who are planning demonstrations and rallies of any kind against the Kano bus station bomb blasts, to sheath their swords immediately.

“These planned protest march could get out of hand. Properties could be damaged and lives lost. We do not reply to the Kano bloodshed with more bloodshed. Painful and regrettable as the bombings were, we call on Ndigbo all over Nigeria to show restraint and maturity at this time.

“Doing otherwise will amount to eventually achieving the aim of the anarchists who bombed those buses. Their agenda is to deliberately provoke Ndigbo to revenge and kick-off mayhem that would lead to an uncontrollable conflagration. Do we play into their hands? Who benefits if Nigeria is set on fire. We plead with all aggrieved Ndigbo to remain calm and cautious.”

Uko stressed that it has become imperative the federal and state governments as well as Luxury bus unions nationwide should network and ensure that bomb detectors were deployed to all bus stations across the country to safeguard lives of passengers and commuters, especially within the flashpoint.

The group said it was impressed by the approach of the leadership of Igbo groups to this provocative development by demonstrating “admirable candour at this very trying time.”

“We assure Nigerians and the international community that Ndigbo will not go to war neither will our people descend upon innocent northerners in our midst. It is not in our nature. Boko Harm will be defeated. We will overcome,” the statement added.

As at press time, there has been no report of any reprisal attack in any of the South East states.

•Photo: Burnt luxury buses whose occupants were also burnt to ashes in the bombing.

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