By Paul Ihechi Alagba,
David Otto Endeley, a Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime expert at TGS Intelligence and Security Consultants based in London, United Kingdom, has warned that the unrelenting upsurge of hostilities and animosity among different nationalities that constitutes the present Nigeria portends a grievous danger to the future of Nigeria.
He stated this while reacting to the ‘quit notice’ given to Biafra living in the northern part of the country to vacate the region. According to him, Nigeria’s political and leadership structures are designed in such a faulty way which has resulted to the unending regional tensions, separatist sentiments and even mass killings in most cases.
A declaration in Kaduna state of northern Nigeria, ordering Biafrans in the region to leave the whole northern region before October 1, 2017 has generated a wide range of reactions among Nigerians.
Meanwhile, the founder of UK based Step In Step Out (SISO), a deradicalisation and anti-extremism intelligence agency has opined that the resultant effects of regional tensions created by things like the vacation threat to Biafrans in northern Nigeria could be, “far more disastrous than meets the ordinary eye.”
“Ethnic hostilities and ‘bad blood’ are deeply buried within the fabrics in Nigeria especially between the three main tribes of Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba,
“This phenomenon became apparent and unhelpful to the entire humanity in the events that led to the bloody 1966 Biafra war,
“There has never existed a genuine trust between the Igbos and the Hausas since then, with Yorubas playing the peace man role. This expression of anger and feelings of separation is not a new phenomenon,” David Otto told Family Writers in an exclusive interview.
“What I can say for sure is that the current political and leadership structure has something to do with this expressions of genocidal signs. The open and hidden implications are far more disastrous than meets the ordinary eye,
“If not well managed practically, then it may lead to bad things happening. ‘Biafrans’ looking for separation is one thing , forcing them to separate is another thing.” he stated.
Going further, the Director of TGS Counter- Terrorism & Organised Crime Dpt. gave tasked the Nigeria government to be unbiased in ensuring that the security of lives and properties are given maximum protection in the tensed up regions.
“From a response perspectives, The Igbos in the North will need absolute assurances from the
