By CHARLES IWUOHA

A Nigerian based in Vienna, Austria, Mr. Kingsley Ugiagbe, has threatened to undertake the mass killing of fellow Nigerians of Igbo extraction via a mass poisoning campaign.

Ugiagbe, an Edo State indigene, issued the threat during a recent Tik Tok virtual meeting of Edo indigenes.

A video clip of the meeting obtained by News Express showed Ugiagbe levelling grave but unsubstantiated allegations against Ndigbo, including the alleged rape of Edo people back home in Nigeria.

An alarmed Nigerian in Vienna, Mr Ahamefule Uzoma, has sent a strongly-worded petition to the leadership of the National Assembly over Ugiagbe’s threat.

Uzoma, who cried out in an open letter dated September 3, 2024 and made available to News Express by e-mail, said he wrote the letter “not as an Igbo man, whose life is one of those under threat, but as a concerned patriotic citizen, a social justice crusader and a human rights activist who strongly believes in the sacrosanctity of life and that has stood up at notable times devoid of ethnic and religious backgrounds in defence of justice.”

Addressed to Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt Hon Tajudeen Abbas, the letter reads: “I write this letter not as an Igbo man whose life is one of those under threat, but as a concerned patriotic citizen, a social justice crusader and a human rights activist who strongly believes in the sacrosanctity of life - and that has stood up at notable times devoid of ethnic and religious backgrounds in defence of justice.

“Consequently, I am compelled to draw your attention to the ugly prevailing circumstance of a reported threat of mass killing of Igbos in Austria through poisoning by Nigerian Mr Kingsley Ugiagbe.

“Mr Ugiagbe from Edo State is a member of “Edo Community Vienna” and also lives in Vienna.

In a Tik Tok virtual meeting Mr Ugiagbe who spoke partly in English and his native language was reported to have threatened to kill Igbos wherever he would see them.

"Mr Ugiagbe who was not alone in that virtual meeting was cheered when he bragged that he was prepared to exterminate the lives of Igbos in a “Silver jubilee + Cultural night” party of “Edo Community Vienna.” He said the first person he would poison was the Chairman of the Igbo Community.

“I will come to the Edo party with poison. The first person I will give the poison is that one they called the Chairman of Ndigbo.

“Anywhere Edo people see Igbo people we should do to them whatever we can do, and if they (Edo people) cannot do anything by fighting them, we should carry our poison in the pocket. I have already arranged my own.

"Thank God there will be Edo Festival on 31.08.2024. I will be going there with my poison to poison the Igbos,” he was reported to have said.

"The Tik Tok virtual meeting video where he made the threat is hereby attached to your individual official E-mails.

The threat to the lives of Nigerians by fellow Nigerians around the world is becoming one too many and must stop. It is not our way of life and not a good image.

"Nigerians must learn to be tolerant, have self-control and conduct themselves properly no matter how highly they may feel provoked. Hate speech is not condoned in any country, and threat to life or body harm is a very serious offense. In the criminal code of most countries it is prohibited and not treated with kid gloves.

"Life is sacrosanct and the most precious gift from God that no mortal can give and has no right to take. In respect to that, the Nigerian community in Austria is boiling as the tempo of fear of attack and death increases.

"In swift reaction to that, members of “Edo Community Vienna”, the umbrella body of Edo people which Mr Ugiagbe is equally a member confirmed the threat and reasonably disassociated themselves from his utterances with a communiqué titled “PUBLIC DISCLAIMER” and suspended him from their union till further notice.

"Part of the official statement read, “The attention of the leadership of Edo Community Vienna has been drawn to a video that has gone viral in the public domain. In the said video, some very appalling and incendiary statements were made by (undeniably) a member of Edo Community, Mr Kingsley Ugiagbe, to the effect that there is a running battle between Edo Community and the Igbo Communities.” That communiqué is equally attached.

"The impeding danger of this very threat is that we recognized only Mr Kingsley Ugiagbe in that Tik Tok virtual meeting, how about others? Who called/piloted that meeting? How many times have they assembled? What was the purpose of their gathering? How many of them were in that meeting and how many were in the ungodly alliance of poisoning Igbos? Are all of them living in Austria? If yes, which states?

"And if no, which countries are they residing so that care will be taken? This incubating hazard is a timely bomb that should not be allowed to explode. Nigerians in Austria have been living in peace and harmony as one indivisible entity, and wish to continue in that path of caring for one another and freely attending any party or gathering organized by any Nigerian or group as usual without restriction and entertainment of fear.

"In respect to your recent commendable swift reaction in a similar circumstance, Nigerians in Austria have accordingly run to you as lawmakers and stakeholders in Nigeria’s affairs and humbly appeal for your involvement with actions in retrospect to that similar ugly case presently going on in Canada for the sake of Nigerians’ lives, unity and peaceful coexistence.”

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