The apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has called on the Inspector General of Police to disarm armed Fulani herdsmen before ordering licensed gun owners to submit them to the police saying that without disarming Fulani herdsmen, it will be inappropriate to tell licenced gun owners to submit them in the face of terror and attacks on innocent citizens in all parts of the country, especially Middle Belt and South.

The Igbo apex body also said that its main concern now is the restructuring of Nigeria.

The body in a statement signed on Thursday by Chuks Ibegbu, the National Deputy Publicity Secretary, said: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo will consult widely before taking any decision on 2019” and that it will “not take any decision on 2019 without subjecting it to the opinion, views, inputs and contribution from a wide spectrum of Igbo society.”

The statement read thus in part: “Our main concern now is the Restructuring of Nigeria in sync with other progressive groups and individuals in Nigeria. Once Nigeria is Restructured, other things will fall in place.

“We want a level playing ground for all sections of Nigeria. We want justice, equity and fairplay. We want a Nigeria in which the bountiful talents of Ndigbo and other Nigerians will be fully realised.

“The nation as it presently constituted kills initiative. The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Barr Nnia Nwodo, assured Ndigbo that he and his EXCO are committed to protect the interest of Ndigbo at all times.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo also called on the Inspector General of Police to disarm armed Fulani herdsmen before ordering licensed gun owners to submit them to the police. ‘Without disarming the armed Fulani herdsmen, it will be inappropriate to tell licensed gun owners to submit them in the face of terror and attacks on innocent citizens in all parts of the country especially middle belt and South.” (Vanguard)