By Roland Ike, Abakaliki
The Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, the apex Igbo socio cultural organisation has admonished Nigerians not to profile Ebonyi and other states of the country negatively due to the criminal activities of few indigenes.
The President of the Ebonyi chapter of the organisation, Dr Peter Mbam made the admonision in a statement made available on Saturday in Abakaliki.
Mbam was reacting to a video circulating on the social media which showed suspected criminals in Anambra, said to be Ebonyi indigenes.
The chapter’s president in the statement, said the alleged criminality of few individuals should not be used to profile Ebonyi or other states, negatively.
“The state chapter’s leadership is consulting other states of the south east zone to stop profiling Ebonyi negatively in this guise.
“Ebonyi indigenes operate legitimately in these states and should therefore not be seen as criminals,” the statement read.
He noted that criminals anywhere in Igboland should be treated as such by security operatives in accordance with laid down laws.
“The entire states should therefore not be profiled negatively.
“We appeal to our national executive committee to the ensure that defaults of few youths are not used to profile their states of origin negatively” the statement read.
Mbam in the statement, noted that such trend negates the organisation’s slogan, ‘Onye aghala nwanne ya’ (Don’t leave your brother behind).
“When such profiling gets outside the shores of Igboland, the whole tribe is affected.
“We commend Gov. Francis Nwifuru for his educational and skill acquisition policies aimed at making youths self reliant and to reduce crime.
“The governor has released funds to empower youths engaged in street trading and other menial jobs within and outside the state,”
Mbam also commended the governor’s wife for her educational programmes aimed at eradicating the out of school syndrome in the state.
“We are hopeful that with all these physical and empowerment policies, Ebonyi people would always be proud of their state,”
