The Arewa Consultative Forum has warned the Igbo against maltreating the
Hausa living in the South-East in the guise of fighting the dreaded
Boko Haram sect.
The ACF said maltreating the Hausa could jeopardise the Igbo’s
investments, which it said amounted to over N45tn in just three states
of the North.
The ACF Deputy National Secretary, Abubakar Umar, while receiving the
South-South/South-East Arewa Coalition who paid a courtesy call on the
Forum in Kaduna on Friday, said the warning became necessary in view of
the ongoing intimidation of the Hausa in the South-East.
In particular reference to the issuance of Identification cards to the
Hausa trading in the South-East by some governments in the region, Umar
said that it should be done in good faith.
He, however, expressed fears that if the North should embark on such
venture, the investments of the Igbo residence in the region could be
endangered.
He said the development could cause crisis that might lead to undeserved
division of Nigerians on ethnic or religious considerations.
Cautioning the South-East governments against engaging in what he termed
“forceful” registration of the Hausa, the ACF chieftain said, “What is
wrong in the exercise was that a segment of a community was the target.”
