Anti-Igbo Quit Notice: Arewa Youth Leader, Yerima Reacts Angrily To Report That He Has Gone Into Hiding

Shettima Yerima, The Leader of the Arewa
Youths Consultative Forum, who was among the
youths who issued a notice to the Igbo to quit
the 19 northern states, on Tuesday, said he
would submit himself for questioning if declared
wanted.

According to him, he was not on the run and
had nothing to fear because he only expressed
his views as a Nigerian.
He was reacting to enquiries by Punch
correspondent, following allegations that he had
gone into hiding in the Republic of Chad.
Arewa youths had, after their meeting in Kaduna
some days ago, given a three-month ultimatum
to Igbo people living in the 19 states in the
North to leave the region or be forced out by
October 1, 2017.
Apart from Yerima, those who endorsed the
resolution were Nastura Sharif (Arewa Citizens
Action for Change); Aminu Adam (Arewa Youth
Development Foundation); Alfred Solomon
(Arewa Students Forum); Abdul-Azeez Suleiman
(Northern Emancipation Network) as well as
Joshua Viashman (Northern Youth Vanguard).
But in an interview with our correspondent, the
AYCF leader said he would make himself
available if invited by security agencies.
Yerima said,

“I Shettima Yerima, The Leader of the
Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, who
was among the youths who issued a
notice to the Igbo to quit the 19
northern states, on Tuesday, said he
would submit himself for questioning if
declared wanted.
According to him, he was not on the
run and had nothing to fear because he
only expressed his views as a Nigerian.
He was reacting to enquiries by Punch
correspondent, following allegations
that he had gone into hiding in the
Republic of Chad.
Arewa youths had, after their meeting
in Kaduna some days ago, given a
three-month ultimatum to Igbo people
living in the 19 states in the North to
leave the region or be forced out by
October 1, 2017.
Apart from Yerima, those who
endorsed the resolution were Nastura
Sharif (Arewa Citizens Action for
Change); Aminu Adam (Arewa Youth
Development Foundation); Alfred
Solomon (Arewa Students Forum);
Abdul-Azeez Suleiman (Northern
Emancipation Network) as well as
Joshua Viashman (Northern Youth
Vanguard).
But in an interview with our
correspondent, the AYCF leader said he
would make himself available if invited
by security agencies.
Yerima said,
“I did not go into hiding and will never
go into hiding. We need to put the
record straight. For now, nobody is
looking for me and I am ready to
submit myself if I am called. I am not
a joker. Nobody is looking for me and
I am not hiding anywhere from
anybody. I am in my village, I am a
Nigerian. If anybody looks for me, I
will submit myself. I am not above the
law. I am not on the run.”
While insisting that he would not go
into hiding, Yerima insisted that the
Igbo should leave Nigeria.
He said,
“Why should I go into hiding? I have a
name, I have a face. I am not faceless.
“I am not hiding anywhere. Why
should I hide? Where did I go wrong?
Somebody wants to go and I said, ‘go,
you’re free to go’. What is wrong
about it?
“You cannot be in our country and
begin to clamour for another country.
Go to your place and declare your own
country, not in my zone. It is a simple
language. I have not committed any
offence.” did not go into hiding and will never
go into hiding. We need to put the record
straight. For now, nobody is looking for me and
I am ready to submit myself if I am called. I am
not a joker. Nobody is looking for me and I am
not hiding anywhere from anybody. I am in my
village, I am a Nigerian. If anybody looks for
me, I will submit myself. I am not above the
law. I am not on the run.”
While insisting that he would not go into hiding,
Yerima insisted that the Igbo should leave
Nigeria.
He said,
“Why should I go into hiding? I have a name, I
have a face. I am not faceless.
“I am not hiding anywhere. Why should I hide?
Where did I go wrong? Somebody wants to go
and I said, ‘go, you’re free to go’. What is
wrong about it?
“You cannot be in our country and begin to
clamour for another country. Go to your place
and declare your own country, not in my zone.
It is a simple language. I have not committed
any offence.”