TheCable

Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Afenifere, socio-cultural groups representing the Igbo and Yoruba, respectively, have asked the police to prosecute those behind looting and destruction of public assets.

The nationwide #EndSARS protests against police brutality, which started as peaceful demonstrations, degenerated into chaos, leading to loss of lives and razing of public and private properties.

In a statement jointly signed by Reuben Fasoranti and John Nwodo, leaders of Afenifere and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, respectively, the groups said they do not endorse arson.

They also condemned the shooting of unarmed protesters at Lekki toll gate on Tuesday, and called for an investigation into the incident.

“The leaders of Afenifere and Ohanaeze jointly commiserate with all the families who lost dear ones in the Tuesday bloody massacre in Lekki, Lagos. The blood of these young ones will pursue their killers and those who ordered them to the gate of justice,” the statement read.

“One fallout of the massacre was the looting and burning spree all over the city. We do not endorse arson as responsible organisations and we call for a stop of the orgies.

“We have also noted the divisive attempt to use the violence to put a wedge between Yoruba and Igbo and destroy the new understanding we have built in the last 3 years.

“We reject this devilish attempt and ask the police to investigate and arraign suspected perpetrators of the violence. The essence of law and order is for individual citizens to answer for their actions. It is where law enforcement is weak that you begin to cast ethnic slur when crimes are committed instead of holding the perpetrators.”

The groups appealed to its people to shun violence and “continue to live together in peace and harmony and not allow divisive elements to put a wedge between them”.