Igbo youths under the aegis of the Ohaneze Youth Council, OYC, has given Fulani herdsmen till Monday next week to vacate Igbo land or be forced out.
The warning followed the massacre of no fewer than 40 people of Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu by Fulani herdsmen last Monday.
The warning was contained in a communique signed and released in Enugu by the National Vice President of the group, Mazi Obinna Achuonye and the Chairmen of OYC in seven Igbo-speaking states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Delta, Imo and Rivers.
It reads, “Herdsmen are off-shoots of Boko Haram and must not be allowed any breeding ground in Igbo land. Any herdsman who fails to quit South East by Monday will have himself to blame.
“Never again will Igbo youths fold their arms and watch our people being massacred by blood-sucking terrorists under the guise of herdsmen. Urgent times need drastic measure. We warn all violent Fulani herdsmen to vacate our farmland, our backyards, our territories and boundaries on or before Monday next week.
“Even though Ohanaeze Ndigbo will meet over the weekend to discuss this menace, Igbo youths will not wait until our people are massacred again before we take action.
“If after Monday and the herdsmen are still around, we will direct Igbo vigilante groups set up by OYC in all the 95 Local Government Areas in South East to force them out”.
OYC also alleged that its intelligent unit had uncovered plans by the Fulani herdsmen to attack Ebonyi State.
“We have uncovered plots that their next target is Ebonyi State. They are coming from Taraba State to attack Ebonyi. We want the Governor of Ebonyi State and all the security agents in the state to be at alert”, the group said.
OYC further disclosed that they are collaborating with Ijaw youths and Middle Belt youths on how to defend their people since the current administration had failed to do so.
“Ijaw youths, and Middle Belt progressives are already waiting for the expiration of the deadline on Monday. Fulani herdsmen have pushed us to the wall, time to take action is now or never”, it warned
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