The leadership of the apex Igbo socio – cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has assured northerners resident in the south – east or any part of Igboland of their safety.

Chief John Nnia Nwodo, the President General of the group gave the assurance on Thursday in Kano when he paid a courtesy call on the Acting Governor of the state, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar.

Nwodo, who was accompanied on the visit by leaders of the group and a delegation of Igbo leaders in Kano, Jigawa, Niger and Katsina states said he was reciprocating the kind gesture displayed by the Sultan of Sokoto in preaching peaceful co-existence.

“We have the assurance of the governors of our respective states that no harm would come to any northerner resident in the East,” Nwodo said.

“As President General of Ohanaeze, I borrow a piece from the Sultan of Sokoto. He said that any northerner who desired to kill an Igbo man should first kill the Sultan. And I say to my people today that any Igbo man who desires to kill a northerner should first kill John Nwodo,” he added.

He further stressed that Nigerians must develop the capacity to resolve their differences through dialogue and expressed confidence in the ability of President Muhammadu Buhari to address some of the concerns that have been raised by Ohanaeze Ndigbo.