An Igbo socio-cultural group, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has stated that reports claiming that 230 Igbos were killed in a fire incident in Jos, the capital of Plateau state are false.
This was contained in a statement released on Sunday by the secretary-general of the group, Okechukwu Isiguzoro.
There are reports on social media claiming that a bus conveying commuters of Igbo extraction was set ablaze in Jos, killing 230 passengers.
But Isiguzoro described the report as a “ruse”.
“We are too sophisticated and competent to be drafted into the quagmire of no Igbo’s concern,” the statement reads.
“The news of the killing of 230 Igbos in two luxury buses, was craftily designed to escalate the Jos crisis into a national disaster, but after a comprehensive investigation of the story, there was no evidence of such incidents, no luxury bus owners in Jos complained about loss of any bus or Igbo community in Jos confirmed the story. We urge Igbos to strictly adhere to the curfew imposed by the State Government and remain indoors.
“We appreciate the Southeast Governors Forum for the rapid response to the cries of stranded Igbo students of UNIJOS, as the evacuation of them was in line with the spirit of ‘Onyeahala Nwanneya’ (be my brother’s keeper). Igbos in Jos are expected to continue to be peaceful and vigilant at all times.”
In a similar development, the Plateau government also debunked claims that people were killed after a luxury bus caught fire in the state.
Makut Macham, media aide to the state governor, urged members of the public to ignore the post purportedly showing buses on fire with the caption: ‘Plateau crises and genocide worsens as 2 luxurious buses conveying Igbos down east were set on fire with 156 passengers inside’.
He described the report as fake, “as no such incident happened”.
“This is purely the handiwork of crises merchants and mischief makers who want to create panic and instigate violence and fear among the people,” he said.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the security situation in Plateau State is very much under control as security personnel have been deployed to all parts of Jos to enforce the 24 hour curfew still in force, as well as also ensure compliance with the dusk to dawn curfew in Jos South and Bassa LGAs.
“The Governor of Plateau State, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, has directed security agencies to track and fish out the purveyors of such fake information whose objective is to cause panic and crisis.
“The public is also advised to desist from sharing such fake information as it can lead to unpleasant consequences for innocent persons.”