TheCable

Junaid Mohammed, a second republic lawmaker, says any attempt to arrest the Arewa youth over the Igbo quit notice given to the Igbo will lead to problems.

The elder statesman warned against such move in an interview with PUNCH.

He described the threat to arrest the youth as not only “counter-productive but also inappropriate.”

Mohammed accused the federal government of “demonstrating irresponsibility in its selective handling” of the threats from the southern and northern parts of the country.

“With the position of things, every Nigerian has the right to live and conduct their businesses in any part of the country,” he said.

“But the federal government left their toes behind when they allowed the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) which is being financed by the Igbo political and business elite, both in the country and in the diaspora to be issuing statements freely.

“Therefore, any attempt to arrest Arewa youths will lead to problems.

“I am resident in Kano state and the last time the Kaduna state government brought up the issue of arrest, there would have been violence if an attempt to arrest anybody by the police had been made.”

Tanko Yakasai, chairman of Northern Elders Council, was also quoted to have said the federal government’s “failure” to tackle the threats by the IPOB on time led to the current crisis in the country.

“I believe that the federal government was somewhat late in addressing the threats issued by the Igbo,” he had reportedly said.

“These threats by both the north and south are unconstitutional and illegal because every Nigerian has the right to live and work in any part of the country he or she chooses.

“I think the Igbo should not allow a man, who was not even born during the civil war to incite violence in the country.

“Both the Hausa and the Igbo are well-travelled traders and if this country splits today, that opportunity is gone, a market of 180 million people. All the regions will suffer for it.”

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, had asked the police arrest of members of the groups who gave the quit notice but the police have not made any arrest.

Earlier in the week, el-Rufai vowed that members of the group would be arrested, no matter how long.