Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide (OYC) has given almajiris a 14 days ultimatum to completely evacuate from South-East or face the hostilities from Igbo youths.
The group was reacting to a recent decision of Northern Governors to end the almajirai system completely in the country.
In a statement signed by the President General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and the General Secretary, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, the OYC also appealed to the South-East Governors to flush out all the almajiris in Igbo land.
“They should review the circumstances surrounding the decisions of Northern Governors on the ban of Almajiris from anywhere they are found back to their states of origin, and take decision to ensure that all Almajiris begging on the streets of the Southeast are sent back.
“This patriotic gesture will afford the Southeast governors the opportunities to help their northern counterparts to receive their wards and empower them, as there’s no better time for it than now.
“The OYC will not tolerate any kind of almajiris system in the South East. This obnoxious policy seen in some Hausa quarters in Igboland will no longer be entertained.
“We will accommodate any Nigerian especially from the North and West doing genuine businesses in the South East, but alternatively we are giving the almajiris an ultimatum and grace of 14 days to evacuate from Igboland or face the hostilities that will follow suit. Igbo youths will deal decisively with any street beggar anywhere in Igboland after 14 days.”
KanyiDaily recalls that Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai had said that northern governors are reviewing their state laws to ensure total eradication of the Almajirai system.
He said: “The Northern Governors Forum took a collective decision at a meeting we had about two weeks ago that we will end the almajirai system completely.”