Youths in Plateau State on Thursday dissociated themselves from the directive by Arewa youths that Igbo living in Northern Nigeria should quit before October 1, describing the threat as inimical, retrogressive and irrational.

While calling on Nigerians to speak against such threats and work towards national unity, integration, peace, and prosperity of the country, they also demanded their arrest and prosecution.

Our correspondent reported that the Arewa youths had, in a communique issued in Kaduna, after their meeting, given a three-month ultimatum to people of Igbo extraction, resident in the 19 states of the North, to leave or be forced out before October 1, 2017.

Those who endorsed the resolution are Nastura Sharif (Arewa Citizens Action for Change); Amb. ShettimaYerima (Arewa Youth Consultative Forum); Aminu Adam (Arewa Youth Development Foundation); Alfred Solomon  (Arewa Students Forum); Abdul-Azeez Suleiman (Northern Emancipation  Network) as well as Joshua Viashman (Northern Youth Vanguard).

But the Convener, Plateau Youths G-17 Peace and Progressive Forum, Dachung Bagos, told journalists in Jos, that such threats should not be taken lightly.

According to him, peace is not only the absence of violence but also the presence of unity, social justice, and harmonious living.

Bagos said, “It is against this backdrop that Plateau Youths G-17 Peace and Progressive Forum condemn in strong terms and expressed displeasure over the notice to the South-South people living in the North to vacate by a group known as the Arewa Youth at its meeting in Kaduna State. We are not part of the threat.

“The call is inimical, retrogressive and irrational to the fragile and relative peace the country is enjoying and capable of heating the polity and springing violence which could hinder peaceful coexistence.

“Nigeria is at a critical moment when citizens should focus on National unity, integration, peace, progress, growth, and development not dissipating our energies on meaningless advocacies capable of disuniting us.

“We call on security and law enforcement agencies to swing into action by ensuring that those youths that issued such threat and their sponsors should be arrested and prosecuted according to the law of the land.

“Plateau state being a peaceful, receptive and hospitable is ready to accommodate the South-South people, all Nigerians and others who will bring even development and promote peaceful coexistence. We call on all Nigerians to speak against such threat, work towards national unity, integration, peace, and prosperity of Nigeria.”

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Dachung Bagos denounces call by Arewa Group that Igbos quit the North