NGO fingers mob action as possible threat to disintegrate Nigeria

The rising trend of mob actions in Plateau State, has been fingered as early warning signs that will trigger the disintegration of the country, if nothing is done to halt the ugly trend.

This was disclosed yesterday in Jos, at the Peace Architecture Dialogue, facilitated by Search For Common Ground, sponsored by European Union (EU).

Speaking to Daily Times, founder, Face of Peace Global, Mr. Salis Muhammad Abdulsalam, said the current threat by the Arewa youths asking the South-east to leave Northern Nigeria could be triggered by notorious gangs rampaging some areas in Jos if government and relevant authorities do nothing to permanently address the issue.

Abdulsalam, who is also the founder of Displaced Women and Children Foundation, said, “the current discomfort to the unity on Nigeria can be seen from the activities of mob action on an individual or group who is perceived as an enemy by irate youths.

“An individual for instance who hail from the eastern part of Nigeria can be unfortunate to run into this group when they are rampaging and consequently attacked, the news reaching the south-east would result to a reprisal attack because it would be perceived that the Hausa extraction has started killing the Igbo in the north”.

He said the actions of the mob might not be connected to the current agitations and threats in the country but because of the level of ignorance among ethnic groups in Nigeria the action would ignite crisis.

He called on government to not only issue warning to those calling the Igbo to leave northern Nigeria but also to partner with Non-governmental organisation and Civil Society Organisations to reorient this group of hoodlums.

“Government issuing threat to this people is not enough because threat does not work with this people: enlightenment should come first before any other action.

“They need to know that one cannot just wake up to say ‘I give you quit notice’, they must understand that the country is bound together by document and governed by principle: only orientation can bring this awearness, so government should make use of the Civil Society Organisation in achieving this aim”, he said.