Fulani Herdsmen Again? Benue Massacre

The popular belief is that a true census of Igbo people on the planet is long overdue. As is well known, Igbo people occupy 100% of all five states of Southeastern Nigeria. The Igbo comprise no less than 60% of Delta and Rivers States in the South-South. There are significant numbers of the Igbo (up to 30%) in Abuja, Lagos, Bayelsia, Benue and Kogi States. In the rest of the 36 states of Nigeria, the Igbo constitutes no less that 15% of the population. Outside Nigeria, the Igbo, now referred to as Diaspora Igbo, make up significant proportions of populations in all continents of the world (Africa, The Americas, Eastern and Western Europe, Russia, Asia, the Pacific Realm etc.). They contribute to the wealth and well-being of their places of abode to the detriment of their homeland which beckons for their attention in the face of hostile and inclement ethno-political environment. Furthermore, the Igbo does not constitute a factor in the budgetary, demographic and political equations where they live just because nobody can say, with any reasonable certainty, the numbers of our people in the Diaspora. Consequently, a true census of the Igbo becomes the number one project for the Igbo Nation of today and tomorrow. Every onye Igbo at home and in the Diaspora needs to give maximum support in time, participation and resources to this project. This census aims to count the entire population of Ndi Igbo in the Diaspora, and at the location where each person usually lives with his family. This will be the fulcrum to enhance and leverage the political and economic standing of the Igbo in the comity of ethnic nationalities in Nigeria and Africa. The census asks questions of people in homes and group living situations, including how many people live or stay in each home, and the sex, age and occupation of each person. The goal is to count everyone once, only once, and in the right place. How the Census Benefits the Igbo Nation (Beginning with Diaspora Igbo) In the Diaspora, government funds, grants and support to states, counties and communities are based on population totals and breakdowns by sex, age, race and other factors. Our community will benefit the most when the census counts everyone. We will be reckoned with on political chessboards which translates to getting our fair share of legislation and development funds spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other vital programs. Businesses, Governments and international concerns will use census data to make decisions on doing business in Igbo that could translate to building factories and this creates jobs. preparedness. Residents use the census to support community initiatives involving legislation, quality-of-life and consumer advocacy. Projections from this census numbers will force accuracy in the numbers of our people in the home land and lead to better planning and development of the Igbo land of our dreams