Deborah Samuel: I Didn’t Ask Igbos Living In The North To Relocate – Obi Of Onitsha

The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, has denied issuing any directive to Igbos living in the North to leave the region in their best interest.

Several reports emerged on social media over the weekend that the prominent monarch had directed the Igbos residing in the North to vacate the region due to the protest and tension in Sokoto State.

Naija News recalls that the protest in Sokoto resulted from the killing and burning of a female student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Deborah Samuel, over alleged blasphemy.

On Saturday, the protesters took to the street to demand the release of suspects arrested in connection with the murder, with the demonstrators destroying churches and other buildings.

In a statement on Tuesday released by his Chief of Staff, Chinyelugo Anionwu, the monarch denied asking the people of South-East origin to immediately leave the North and immediately home.

Achebe described such reports quoting him issuing the directive as fake and baseless, asking Nigerians to ignore such reports.

“The attention of Imeobi Onicha Palace has been drawn to a statement that His Majesty, Nnaemeka Achebe, Agbogidi, Obi of Onitsha, has called on every Igbo living in the North to come back home immediately.

“The statement that has gone viral on social media is fake and should be discountenanced,” the statement reads.