The Igbo National Union-Worldwide (INU-W) accuses the Lagos State Government of orchestrating the destruction of Igbo-owned properties and businesses, warns of looming ethnic disharmony if urgent federal intervention is not taken
The Igbo National Union-Worldwide (INU-W), a pan-Igbo socio-political organization committed to the protection and advancement of the collective interests of the Igbo people at home and in the diaspora, has issued a strong condemnation against what it described as “the deliberate and systematic destruction” of Igbo-owned properties and businesses across Lagos State.
In a press statement released to journalists and signed by the group’s Administrative Secretary, Mazi Austin-Mary Ndukwu, INU-W expressed deep concern over what it termed the “wanton demolition and destruction of investments belonging to Igbos under the current administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.”
The group alleged that the Lagos State Government’s ongoing urban development activities and demolition exercises have disproportionately targeted the Igbo community, thereby fueling suspicion of ethnic profiling and deliberate economic disenfranchisement.
According to INU-W, the sustained silence of both the Federal Government and prominent Yoruba leaders over the demolitions has further emboldened the state’s actions, creating a dangerous precedent that could worsen relations between the Igbo and Yoruba ethnic groups.
“It has become glaring that the Lagos State Government, under the guise of state laws and proclamations, is out to make life unbearable for Igbos living and doing business in Lagos,” the statement read.
“The conspiracy of silence by Yoruba elites and the Federal Government is deeply worrisome and could lead to ethnic disharmony if not urgently addressed.”
INU-W called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately intervene and rein in the Lagos State Government, urging him to use his good offices to compel Governor Sanwo-Olu to halt what the group described as “lopsided demolitions and economic sabotage” targeted at the Igbo populace.
The statement further appealed to Yoruba leaders, traditional rulers, and other opinion shapers within the Southwest region to counsel the Lagos State Government against acts capable of fracturing Nigeria’s fragile ethnic unity. INU-W emphasized that Nigeria’s strength lies in mutual respect and cooperation among its ethnic groups, adding that “no region can thrive in isolation.”
“We urge Governor Sanwo-Olu and other Yoruba elites who appear to support or remain indifferent to these targeted demolitions to reconsider their stance,” Ndukwu said.
“Every region in Nigeria depends on the other for survival, and it is dangerous to sow seeds of discord where peaceful coexistence should prevail.”
The organization noted with regret that Igbo traders and property owners have continued to bear the brunt of what it described as “government-backed intimidation,” even as they contribute immensely to Lagos State’s economy and development. INU-W advised affected individuals to remain calm and law-abiding, expressing optimism that justice would eventually prevail.
“We encourage our brothers and sisters in Lagos to remain peaceful and resilient. This phase will pass, and the truth will prevail in due time,” the group assured.
The statement concluded with a stern warning that failure to address the ongoing demolitions and alleged ethnic targeting could escalate into a full-blown crisis, threatening national unity and stability.
“INU-W urges President Tinubu to act decisively and prevent this situation from snowballing into a breakdown of law and order. We cannot afford another chapter of ethnic animosity in Nigeria’s history,” it cautioned.
As calls for justice and equal treatment echo across the Southeast, INU-W reaffirmed its commitment to defending the rights and dignity of the Igbo people wherever they reside, insisting that the country’s diversity must remain a source of strength rather than division.
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