Igbo Youth Leaders and Stakeholders Assembly has dismissed reports that the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, John Mbata, called on Igbo youths from the age of 18 to arm themselves against suspected terrorists in the South-East.
In a statement, the group’s leader, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, described the reports as false and misleading, stating that there was no truth whatsoever in the claims.
“We categorically state that our leader and President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide did not and can never make such a call for arms. This malicious propaganda and criminal blackmail, for whatever purpose or intention, is dead on arrival,” he said.
Okpalaezeukwu described Mbata as a respected statesman and patriot with impeccable character and an outstanding record of service, insisting that the allegation was deliberately fabricated to mislead the public.
He condemned what he described as mischievous and false insinuations and urged members of the public to disregard the report, while calling on citizens to always verify sensitive information before sharing it, so as not to aid the spread of fake news.
The group equally urged the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, the Inspector-General of Police, the Department of State Services, DSS, and other relevant authorities to investigate the source of the claim, with a view to identifying, arresting and prosecuting those behind what it described as an “expensive fake news” capable of undermining national peace and security.
“The South-East remains a region with unique challenges, including insecurity, perceived marginalisation, neglect, and the absence of major capital projects. The circulation of such false statements only worsens an already delicate situation,” the statement read in part.
