Ohanaeze Youths Council Worldwide (OYCW), yesterday called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the federal government to as a matter of urgency release leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim Yaqoub El Zakzaky and other detainees granted bail by various courts across the country to save the nation from religious war

In a statement issued in Abakaliki by its President-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the Igbo youths expressed fear that the protest by El Zakzaky’s followers over his continued detention may cause religious war, counselling the federal government to halt it.

It reads: “Federal Government should as a matter of urgency release all political detainees granted bail by any court of competent jurisdiction especially the leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria, El Zakzaky before the clash between the Shiites and security agents snowball into full scare war.

“What happened in Abuja on 22nd July 2019 if care is not taken will repeat itself and Nigeria might disintegrate through civil disobedience and disturbances. The violent Protest of Shiites in Abuja has opened the eyes of other groups who may wish to follow the recent antecedents of Islamic Movement in Nigeria violent Protest, and it is a threat to the unity of Nigeria.

“With banditry in the North West, Boko Haram in the North East, armed herdsmen terrorising the Middle belt and the Southern Nigeria, and OPC, Biafra agitators and the Niger Delta Militia all waiting for the herdsmen’s ultimatum and counter ultimatums of Northern Ethnic Youths vs Southern Ethnic Youths, presidency needs to urgently address this issues and release El zakzaky unconditionally with others or President Muhammadu Buhari cannot Survive fighting all insurgents in every zone in the country.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth council worldwide is in support of the 2019 National Youth Dialogue/Confab packaged by Nigeria ethnic Nationalities Youth leaders where the issues threatening the unity of the country will be addressed and solutions proffered. We urge the Federal Government to toe the part progress and support every peaceful means to avert all these insecurity in the country.” (New Telegraph)