Boko Haram - Igbo arrive in enugu in batches

Over 150 Igbo citizens arrived Enugu from Maiduguiru, Borno State, on Thursday, three days after the same number of persons returned home due to the upsurge of Boko Haram activities in northern Nigeria.

The returnees, who arrived in batches, arrived Ninth Mile Corner, Enugu town, in free luxury buses provided by Igboville, an Igbo social network group.

The Igboville group comprises Igbo professionals in Nigeria and the Diaspora. The group provided the buses to be used in evacuating Igbos who are stranded in the North to Enugu.

Some of the returnees, who spoke to reporters, claimed they relocated to the bush for many days until they got hint of the free buses.

Mrs. Patricia Agballakwe, an indigene of Nnewi in Anambra State, said, “We came back because of Boko Haram. My family members and I were hiding in the bush until we heard that free buses had been provided for us and we quickly came out and returned home. As you can see, I am a happy woman now because I’m out of the Boko Haram area.”

Founder of Igboville, Mr. Emeka Maduewesi, implored the returnees to quickly resettle in the South-East zone while the government sorts out the security situation.

Maduewesi, who spoke through Mrs. Nelo Fina, called on politicians and well-meaning Nigerians to assist in evacuating Ndigbo still left in the North from danger spots.

While reaffirming the group’s commitment to one Nigeria, Maduewesi urged the government to do more to secure the lives and property of Ndigbo and Nigerians in general.

He expressed optimism that Nigeria was not about to disintegrate, saying, “The country would soon get over the turbulent times.”

He called on the South-East governors to ensure that school children among the returnees were absorbed into different institutions in the zone.

The Igboville founder said, “The evacuation of Igbo people would continue until every Igbo that is willing to leave is enabled to leave.”