Arewa Group Berates #EndSARS Protesters, Igbo Over Carnage, Arson

While suspected soldiers unfortunate shooting of innocent #EndSARS Protesters are being heaped with the blames of throwing the country into a killing theatre and destruction of both private private and public property, a group under the aegis of Arewa Defence Group, on the contrary, blames Igbo ethnic group, Nnamdi kanu and his proscribed Independent People of Biafra (IPOB).

In a statement signed by the President of the group, Murtala Abubakar, the pro Northern group while condemning the losses of lives and property stated that #End SARS protesters were sponsored and manipulated to cause disaffection in the country, calling on them to stop forthwith.

The group also bemoaned the desecration of the palace of Oba Akiolu of lagos State describing the act as sacrilegious.

According to reports, it is believed that the perpetrators of the sacrilegious act may not be unconnected with the cold war that has been existing between two camps in National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). “Currently, there is an on-going silent war of supremacy in NURTW in Lagos State. It is between the supporters of the notorious M. C. Oluomo and Kunle Poly for the leadership of the Union.“

However, ADL, in its statement said:

“The Arewa Defence League, ADL, a pro Northern group, has condemned  the ongoing  carnage perpetrated by  #EndSARS protesters in some parts of the country .

“ADL viewed the ongoing destruction with grave concern, and wishes to draw the attention  of  young Nigerians  who are being manipulated to perpetrate these unfortunate carnage to stop immediately as the motive  of the sponsors is not altruistic .

“In particular, ADL viewed the attacks by the so called protesters on business interests of other Nigerians in Lagos, as an act of brigandage calculated to cause tribal  disharmony.

 
“ADL strongly deplore  the attacks  and arson on Federal Government facilities and institutions, noting that such acts were not only barbaric but treasonable.

“ADL reflects on the history of Northerners and reminds Nigerians, particularly the Yoruba nation of our experience after Independence.
There was rapid development in the North, made possible by the commitment of our then leadership which made Northern Nigeria a cynosure and envy of the other regions .

“The  massacre of our military and political leaders in 1966, masterminded  by elements of Igbo extraction in the Nigerian Army, undoubtedly led to the contradictions which reversed  growth  and progress thereby retarding our development.

“In recent years, the South west region has taken the lead as epicenter of commerce, industry and development in all facets .Today, they are being visited with similar  evil agenda but in a different guise, with calculated attacks on some of their strategic assets to weaken their growth and  influence.

“Of great concern to us, was the attack on a place that was revered and has cultural value, the Palace of the Oba of Lagos and its subsequent vandalization.
This to every decent mind was a sacrilegious act that no legitimate son of the Yoruba  nation will contemplate.

“Similar attacks were orchestrated in Kano at Sabon Gari area by the Igbo elements to set Kano and Northern Nigeria ablaze so that they could seize the opportunity and deprive Kano its age long status as the commercial nerve centre of the North.

“ADL salutes the patriotic and mature conduct of the Kano youth who refused to fall into the dangerous trap in the name of # EndSARS protest by unpatriotic elements masquerading as protesters.

“While ADL commiserates with those who were victims of the rampage  such as the owners of media houses, banks and other business organizations as well as traditional institutions and numerous others, the pro Northern group also sympathized with families of those killed or wounded, especially the innocent Nigerians caught in a cross fire .

“ADL called on Nigerian youths  to be wary of agents of destabilization like Nmamdi Kanu and his co travelers, who out of their selfish and pecuniary gains, are out to mislead them into plunging our dear nation into avoidable chaos.

“Dated at Kaduna this 22nd day of October,2020.
“Murtala Abubakar
“President ADL.”