The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has strongly denied reports claiming its President General, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, urged Ndigbo and other Nigerians to arm themselves against a looming war.
In a statement issued over the weekend by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu, the organisation described the report as false, malicious, and deliberately designed to provoke hate and incite crisis.
The group condemned the viral social media story, which was framed under a misleading “BREAKING” headline and attributed to Azuta-Mbata.
“The fake story fraudulently claims that the Ohanaeze President General issued an ‘urgent call to arms,’ allegedly warning that ‘every Igbo man from age 18 up must get a gun,’ and urging people to ‘acquire weapons, foreign or locally made’ because ‘a war is coming in days,’” the statement read.
Ohanaeze stressed that Azuta-Mbata never made such statements.
“Let it be stated clearly, categorically and without any equivocation that Senator Azuta-Mbata never issued any satanic call to arms and never authorised any such demonic publication. This lethal narrative is a complete devilish fabrication and did not emanate from Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide or any of its recognised communication channels,” the group declared.
Defence of Leadership
The organisation described the report as reckless, dangerous, and criminal, designed to incite fear and portray Ndigbo as promoters of lawlessness.
It emphasised that Azuta-Mbata is a respected elder statesman and nationalist whose leadership has always been anchored in peaceful advocacy, constitutionalism, justice, and fairness.
“He cannot, by character, record or conviction, be associated with calls for violence, illegal arms acquisition or the breakdown of law and order,” the statement added.
Ohanaeze urged security agencies to trace and prosecute the authors of the false publication, warning that their actions pose a grave threat to public peace, national security, and inter-ethnic harmony.
“Neither the President General nor Ohanaeze can be a party to this unimaginable mischief, violent propaganda and deliberate falsehood to cause venomous destruction of the polity,” the group said.
It further urged the public to disregard the fake story, describing it as “a product from the pit of hell, crafted to deceive the unsuspecting and malign the leadership and corporate integrity of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.”
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