GOVERNOR Ben Ayade of Cross River State has guaranteed the peace and safety of all non-indigenes, especially the Hausa and Fulanis living in the state.

Speaking through Musa Maigoro, his special adviser on non-indigenes affairs, Ayade said his government had met with all the stakeholders of the northern community to assure them of  their safety and that they should go about their legitimate business as they were very free to live in any parts of the state.

Ayade described the quit notice to Igbo to leave northern Nigeria as one from a faceless group, saying it was unwarranted and very condemnable.

“The Cross River State government condemns  in unequivocal terms the threat against non-indigenes in northern Nigeria, especially the igbos, by a faceless northern youths group . This development, is unwarranted  especially in this critical period of our dire need for unity and national integration 4 sustainable development.

“We are fully committed to provide maximum security to protect the lives and properties of the non-indigenes resident in Cross River State.”

Earlier, Rosemary Archibong, the state commissioner for Information, in a statement, dispelled rumours that Nigerians of Northern extraction living in Calabar had abandoned the streets of the State Capital.

She said: “This is totally false and not in tandem with the reality here in Calabar and indeed other parts of the state. Calabar remains one of the most peaceful cities in the country and therefore poses no security threats to its residents.”

“The state government is fully alive to it’s responsibility of providing security to all her citizens and residents while sustaining our nationally acclaimed status as the most peaceful State in Nigeria.”

—  Jun 12, 2017 @ 13:40 GMT