The Association of Igbo Town Unions (ASITU) has lodged formal petitions with the United Nations Human Rights Council, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the ECOWAS Court of Justice over what it described as the “persistent and targeted demolition” of properties and businesses owned by Igbo traders and investors in Lagos State.
Speaking during a press conference in Umuahia, ASITU’s National President, Chief Emeka Diwe, condemned the demolitions as a form of economic cleansing, warning that Nigeria is “dying slowly from the cancer of ethnic discrimination and selective justice.”
Flanked by other executive members from various Igbo communities, Diwe revealed that the group turned to international bodies after repeated appeals to Nigerian authorities went unanswered.
“We have done this not because we lack faith in Nigerian institutions, but because those institutions have failed to address our documented grievances,” Diwe explained.
ASITU also rejected the Lagos State Government’s justification that the affected structures were erected on waterways, insisting that most of the properties were legally acquired and duly approved by the same authorities now demolishing them.
“These actions send a dangerous message that property rights in Nigeria are insecure and that ethnic sentiments can influence government decisions,” Diwe stated. “This undermines investor confidence, economic growth, job creation, and Nigeria’s global image as a nation governed by the rule of law.”
According to the group, several demolition notices were served too close to execution dates, leaving property owners with no opportunity to seek legal redress. The association also accused government officials of disregarding valid documents presented by affected persons.
“Many of these properties had valid approvals. What we are witnessing is not law enforcement but the systematic destruction of livelihoods,” ASITU said.
The union urged affected individuals to remain calm and law-abiding while calling on Igbos to reinvest in their homeland to strengthen the South-East economy.
“To the Igbo business community, do not be discouraged. Embrace the philosophy of Aku Ruo Ulo—let wealth return home,” Diwe advised. “Invest in Igboland so that our homeland becomes an economic powerhouse that commands respect and security.”
He emphasized that ASITU’s call for justice was not about secession but about promoting fairness, economic resilience, and mutual respect among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups.
— Hobnob News
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