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The Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Anambra State Branch, has strongly condemned the penchant by the Lagos State Government in Nigeria’s South-West to round up and deport large numbers f Igbos from the South-East, dumping them in Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of Anambra.

Reacting to the alleged deportation of 67 persons from Lagos, who were dumping in Onitsha early yesterday morning, the CLO described the action as not only wicked but also a brazen breach of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In a statement signed by the Chairman, Comrade Aloysius Attah, and Secretary, Comrade Justus Ijeoma, the frontline civil rights group recalled that a similar incident occurred some months back.

While calling on the Anambra State Government to address the issue frontally with their Lagos State counterpart, the CLO called for a holistic investigation into the matter.

The organisation also queried the intention of the Lagos State Government in the action as they noted that most of the people brought into the state are not indigenes of Anambra.

According to the organisation, “Lagos State Government by their action is proving that the state is not only above the law but can operate another set of laws without qualms in the country. They were also emboldened to repeat this dastardly act because of the gentleman approach which Anambra State adopted in handling the first incident.”

Labeling the act as appalling and unacceptable, the CLO called for an immediate action on the part of Anambra State Government to ensure that the perpetrators of this act will not go unpunished.

“Anambra State cannot be a dumping ground,” the CLO said.

•Photo shows some of the deportees.

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