Influx of Hausa/Fulani youths causing tension in Igbo Land

Sudden influx of able bodied youths from different states in the North to states in the South East and South South is raising concern among people of the zones. Their movements became more worrisome as they are invading the states at a time the Federal and various state governments have restricted movements, with curfew even imposed. It is very curious why this sudden influx. Initially, it was reported that Almajiris displaced from the Northern states were making their way to the South East. But a closer look at these people showed they were no almajiris but youths ranging from 15 to 30 years and above which belied the earlier speculation. Incidentally, these youth are secretly entering the states as they hide under tucks conveying cattle and food stuff and some of them usually entered in the dead of the night. The question remains what their mission is, more so in a period interstate movements are banned and all the states in the country have closed their interstate boundaries because of the fight to flatten the curve of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic. Worrisome is that despite the Federal government’s ban on interstate movements as well as 8pm to 6am curfew (as measures to curtail spread of Covid-19), these people beat all the security mounted from the various states all the way from the Northern states down to states in the south. This exposes the compromise of security men manning the various interstate boundaries. Some of the youth were so desperate in getting down to the east that one of them rode all the way from Nasarawa state on a motorcycle to Enugu State where he was intercepted at Nsukka and asked to turn back to Nasarawa. For an example, on Wednesday, 6th May, about 7 mini buses and a luxury bus conveying the youths through the Enugu-Benue -Kogi boundaries were intercepted by the Nsukka Vigilante group and other local security, with the assistance of soldiers. They were escorted by soldiers out of Enugu back to where they were coming from. The frequency has become worrisome. The matter has also given some of the governors concern that they now constantly come out in the night to monitor compliance to the curfew and some of them like Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Willy Obiano have been monitoring and arresting offenders. These movements have been witnessed in all the five states of the South East zone. Also, in Enugu state, the local government areas boarding Benue and Kogi states like Isi-Uzo, Udenu, Igboeze North, Igboeze South, Nsukka and Uzo-Uwani council areas have been fortified with local security. At Awgu local government area of Enugu that has boundary with Abia state, the Vice Chairman of the Council, Mr. Lotachukwu Ogbonnia, on May 7, intercepted a truck loaded with about 30 Northern youths who claimed they were coming from Port Harcourt and were travelling to Kano state. Initially, the driver of the truck told the Agwu Task force team that he was carrying salt but when the team insisted on searching, 30 human beings were rather discovered instead of salt. They were made to reverse and go back to wherever they were coming from. Also, on Monday, May 11, the Nigeria Air force at its checkpoint at Penox junction, along Enugu-Ontisha expressway intercepted over 60 northern youths packed into a 40 feet container. They claimed they were going to Nassarawa state. The interception in the daytime, drew the attention of different security agencies and civilians, including the chairman of Enugu East local government area, Mr. Alex Ugwu. Public Relations Officer of the NAF in Enugu, Flt Lt. John Ogili told Saturday Vanguard that the Air force team handed over the arrested northerners to the police. The police, it was learnt, reloaded the northern youths into a truck that took them out from Enugu and headed north while the truck that conveyed them was impounded by the police. Still in Enugu, some Shua Arabs from Niger republic were, on Tuesday this week, apprehended along Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway with some loads and after interrogation the Chairman of Enugu South local government council, Mr. Monday Eneh turned them back toward the northern boundary where they said they came from. The matter has been of concern to the people of south East prompting Ohaneze Ndigbo to react. Ohanaeze Ndigbo has rejected the ferrying of Northern youths and Almajiris in large numbers to the South East States, saying that their movement was not with good intentions. Publicity secretary of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Prince Uche Achi-Ogbaga wondered why the large numbers of youths from the North are making their way to the South East especially when interstate boundary movement is banned.