Catholic priest, Fada Angelo Chidi Unegbu, has alleged that some Igbos are denying or concealing their identity because of what he described as hatred, intimidation and persecution from other ethnic groups in Nigeria.
The clergyman made the claim while reacting to a viral video purportedly showing a police officer threatening a motorist and saying he would have slapped and detained him if he were Igbo.
In the video circulating on social media, the officer was seen taking the motorist’s identity card and checking his name before allegedly saying, “If you were Igbo, I would have detained you.”
Reacting in a post on his official Facebook page on Friday, Fada Angelo argued that the incident demonstrated why some Igbos allegedly conceal their ethnic identity.
“Do you now realise why Ndigbo are the only people I know on this earth proudly denying their identity? Because Nigeria is a weapon fashioned against them,” he wrote.
The priest said the alleged discrimination was one of the reasons some Igbos were changing their surnames to English names and, in some cases, altering details about their state of origin.
“Only God knows how many Igbo people have changed not only their names but also their state of origin,” he added.
He urged Igbos not to abandon their identity because of what he described as persecution, arguing that doing so would undermine their unity.
“If you are Igbo, listen to this: never change your name, state, or deny your identity because of persecution in Nigeria,” he said.
“That is exactly what they want you to do. They know that your greatest weapon is your unity. That unity is what they are targeting.”
Fada Angelo further called on Igbos to remain proud of their heritage, insisting that being Igbo was not a crime.
“Remain Igbo. Be proud of it. You did not commit any crime by being Igbo. Your ancestors did not commit any crime by defending themselves when war was brought to them,” he said.
The priest expressed hope that Nigeria would one day overcome what he described as hatred, oppression and subjugation, allowing citizens to live in a country they could proudly call home.
He concluded his post by linking the alleged persecution of Igbos to the detention of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, writing, “Now you understand why Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is in prison. He is Igbo.”
