IPOB: Bindow intercepts, pleads with Igbos leaving Yola

Adamawa State governor, Jibrilla Bindow has allayed fear of Igbo nationals already leaving the state in droves for the fear of reprisal attacks by northern youths.

The fear was borne out of the ongoing maltreatment of Hausa people in the Southeast by the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB).

The Igbo people yet to leave Northeast have refused to either come out in the open or transact businesses.

Allaying their fears, Bindow has summoned a close door meeting with their community leaders to douse tension.

The emergency meeting was attended by security chiefs, where Bindow openly condemned in strong term the recent attack on innocent Nigerians by IPOB, warning that it would be of no profit to any section of the country to drum a war beat.  He urged all governors in the Southeast to checkmate activities of the group before it escalates.

Correspondent Owolabi Adenusi reports that president general of Igbo cultural association in the state, Chief Ogbonna Paul Ebere denounced current unrest in the Southeast arising from the activity of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB).  He noted with regret deficiencies of IPOB not allowing peace to reign in the region.

Ebere added that issues in the Southeast should not be given tribal, ethnic or regional colouration but be regarded as natural affecting others as well.

Some Igbo in the state raised alarm that if their kinsmen under the umbrella of IPOB continue attacking other Nigerians in the east then their own safety in the North would not be guaranteed.

Earlier, spokesman for the state government and Commissioner for Information and strategy, Mallam Ahmed Sajoh disclosed that security chiefs and government officials gathered Igbo in the state to reassure their safety.

He pleaded that government would use all apparatus at its disposal to ensure that no Igbo man or any other tribe is molested or attacked as the rumor of skirmishes continue in the Southeast.

Governor Bindow had earlier urged Northeast Governors to checkmate activities of the group before it escalates. His intervention has restored hope of safety of the Igbo leaving Adamawa in droves.