The Presidency has warned northern elements against “any knee-jerk reactions, panic, disruption of lives and livelihoods, or even retaliatory violence”, following a viral video of a woman simply identified as Fatima, and her four children, who were allegedly murdered in cold blood suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
According to a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Wednesday, the Presidency said it is investigating the viral videos of the alleged killings of non-indigenes by the Eastern Security Network (ESN) and IPOB.
In the viral video, the pregnant woman was seen with her four children in the pool of their own blood at Isulo, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
In reaction, the Coalition of Northern Group (CNG) issued a retaliatory threat, saying southerners would soon meet the same fate as Fatimah.
Shehu’s statement is titled ‘Presidency warns against hasty response to cruel videos now viral.’
It read in part, “While expert agencies are now verifying the factuality and veracity of the claims that accompany the horrid pictures being circulated, we call on all citizens to avoid hasty steps or conclusions that could exacerbate the situation, and on the contrary keep to a line of conduct that will help the law to take its proper course.
“The Presidency also cautions the public against the indiscriminate sharing of posts on social media so as to deny vested interests who seek to divide us and create disturbance the chance to do so.”
