Leaders of pan-Yoruba political organisation, Afenifere; and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Saturday, condemned last Tuesday’s shooting of defenceless #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate area of Lagos State by soldiers.
The groups also condemned the sustained destruction of public and private properties and looting by hoodlums who hijacked the #EndSARS protests in the country.
The leader of Afenifere, Chief Reuben Fasoranti; and President-General of Ohanaeze, Chief John Nwodo, stated this in a joint statement entitled, ‘#EndSars: Afenifere and Ohanaeze say no to willful destruction.’
The organisations also decried an attempt to sow seed of discord between the Yoruba and Igbo ethnic nationalities by those bent on taking advantage of the tension in the land to cause further division in the country.
The leaders of Afenifere and Ohanaeze jointly commiserated with all the families who lost their loved ones in the unrest in the country.
“The blood of these young ones will pursue their killers and those who ordered them to the gate of justice.
“One fallout of the massacre was the looting and burning spree all over the city.
“We do not endorse arson as responsible organisations and we call for a stop of the orgies.
“We have also noted the divisive attempt to use the violence to put a wedge between Yoruba and Igbo and destroy the new understanding we have built in the last three years.
“We reject this devilish attempt and ask the police to investigate and arraign suspected perpetrators responsible for the violence. The essence of law and order is for individual citizens to answer for their actions.
“It is where law enforcement is weak that you begin to cast ethnic slur when crimes are committed instead of holding the perpetrators.
“We appeal to our peoples to continue to live together in peace and harmony and not allow divisive elements to put a wedge between them. Solidarity forever,” they said.
