By Bode Olagoke
Abuja
The federal government has finally revealed reasons why the northern coalition who gave October deadline ultimatum to the Igbos living in the North were not arrested, saying that they have been invited by the Department of State Services (DSS) for questioning.
Addressing a Press Conference on Friday in Abuja, Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Dambazau, said the northern group had denied the quick notice order, claiming that the media quoted them out of context.
According to the Minister, the group had also written Acting President (Yemi Osinbajo) indicating that they did not make inciting statement as to the issue of violence or forceful ejection of the Igbos in the north
According to him; “The group that called themselves Coalition of Arewa Associations that held a press conference in Kaduna where they gave October 1 ultimatum to the Igbos to quit the north as a response to what they termed as issue of separatist agenda of the IPOB and claim that there are lots of incitements from the Igbos against the northerners to which the Kaduna State governor responded that they should be arrested for what they reported.
“Of course they later claimed that the media quoted them out of context. I am very much aware that the DSS invited all of them, held a meeting with them to which they made a statement to the effect that what was reported in the media was not what they said.
“They further wrote to the acting President indicating that they did not make inciting statement as to the issue of violence or forceful ejection of the Igbos in the north. However, it was on the basis of that the northern elders called them to also reaffirm from them that what was reported is not exactly what they meant.
“Secondly, it is on this basis that I am answering the question, but it is something that the Kaduna State government is handling since that is where it happened. I want to think that it was on that basis that the arrest was not made.
“Again, there have been several efforts to dialogue between the northern youths and the Igbo youths. Several of such meetings have been held including the reported stalemated latest one a week ago but my understanding is that these various groups are sitting down among themselves to reach an understanding.
“More importantly, government has given assurance when the Acting President met with leaders from various parts of the country that nothing is going to happen to any person. Government has assured that everybody should stay and continue with their normal businesses,” he assured.
