BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

Former governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has called for a special security arrangement for the protection of Igbo people living in the North of the country.

Ezeife, who spoke against the backdrop of recent bombing of a bus park in Kano, which led to the death of scores of people, said the time was ripe for the Igbo to begin to defend themselves against attacks.

In a message to Vanguard, Wednesday, the former presidential adviser on political affairs described the Kano incident as a major attack targeted at the Igbo.

He, however, warned that, in the event that the canvassed self-defence became operational, the people must use it only for defensive reasons.

He called on the government and security agencies in the country to recognise the necessity to enable the Igbo to now begin to defend themselves against attacks in order to drastically reduce cases of mass killings that had mainly put Igbo people at the receiving end in the Arewa Land.

Ezeife said:  “The Kano bombing is latest major targeted attack on the Igbo.  Of course, many Igbo families have been targeted individually in their homes and thousands have been killed.  Mass killing like the Kano case, killing in churches, trade areas, town meeting halls, motor parks, Igbo communities, etc, should demand new security approaches.

File:  Burnt luxury buses lie in the parking area at New Road bus station in Sabon Gari district in northern Nigerian’s largest city of Kano on March 19, 2013. Two suicide bombers rammed their car into a bus laden with passengers at the motor park, killing at least more than 22 people and injuring 65 others, and the following explosion burnt five buses. AFP.

“The President, governors, the police, the Army, other security agencies should now clearly understand and fully accept the compelling need for the Igbo to be in a position to defend themselves anywhere they are together in large numbers.

“They should acquire whatever they need for group self defence.  It must be clear that whatever they acquire for defence must not be put to offensive use.

“Nobody or group should feel intimidated that the Igbo equip themselves for group self defence.  The practical way to implement this is the creation of special vigilante or security groups which are adequately equipped to prevent attacks and deal with attacks they cannot prevent.

“The government should, indeed, supply the Igbo security groups what they demand for self defence but the people can help themselves.

“The IWA against carrying guns and other self defence equipment must now recognize the special needs of the Igbo in Northern Nigeria to defend themselves.  For the Igbo, it is better to be charged with carrying guns than to be killed with insult.”