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Afenifere Condemns Ultimatum for Igbos to Leave South-West And Affirms Safety of Residents
Afenifere, the prominent pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organization, has firmly denounced the recent demands by some Yoruba extremists for the expulsion of Igbo individuals from the South-West region of Nigeria.
The organization has reassured all Nigerians residing legally in any part of Yoruba land that their safety and security are guaranteed, and they should not fear any forced relocation or eviction.
This response came in reaction to a controversial social media post by an obscure handle known as ‘LagosPedia,’ which has been spreading a viral message.
The post, which caused considerable anxiety across Lagos and other parts of the southwest, issued a one-month ultimatum for Igbo residents and business owners to vacate the region.
It further advocated for Yorubas living in the South-East to return to their ancestral homes.
The message, accompanied by the hashtag #Igbomustgo, suggested that a large-scale protest would be organized from August 20th to August 30th, demanding the removal of Igbo people from all South-West states and the relocation of their businesses.
Afenifere has strongly rejected these inflammatory and divisive calls, asserting that the motives behind such campaigns are to create discord between the Igbo and Yoruba communities.
The organization emphasized that there are no plans or intentions to expel any group of people who are lawfully engaged in their activities within the South-West.
Instead, Afenifere clarified that the only individuals being targeted are the unscrupulous herders who have been disrupting the lives of local farmers and rural women.
Therefore, Afenifere’s message to the Igbo community residing in Lagos and the broader South-West region is one of solidarity and reassurance, affirming that they should not be concerned about any threats of expulsion.
The organization underscored the unity of Nigerians and their collective right to live and work anywhere in the country.
A teenage girl, Lawal Hameedat Adenike, has filed a lawsuit against the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the PEFTI Centre after allegedly being forced to remove her hijab before sitting for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The suit was filed by her mother and legal representative, Basirat Ojo, who spoke to journalists in Abuja about the distressing incident. Ojo explained that on April 25, 2025, at the PEFTI CBT Centre in Ibadan, Oyo State, her daughter was told she could not take the exam unless she removed her hijab, which she wears as a religious obligation. Ojo described the experience as humiliating and emotionally distressing for her daughter, adding that it was a clear violation of her rights.
The lawsuit is seeking a public apology from both JAMB and PEFTI, to be published in two national newspapers. Additionally, it calls for compensation for the rights violation and a court ruling that any policy requiring female candidates to remove their hijabs is unconstitutional.
Lawal’s lawyer, Qousim Opakunle, emphasized that the case is based on constitutional rights. He argued that the directive violated Section 38 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, especially for minors who are vulnerable to such injustices.
Many Nigerians are expressing deep concern over the poor performance recorded in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), following the release of the results by JAMB on Friday. Social media has since been flooded with reactions from worried parents, students, and education stakeholders, many of whom believe the scores don’t reflect the true efforts of the candidates.
One user, Oluwaseun, took to X to voice his frustration, sharing a screenshot of a student named Egbaze Victoria who allegedly scored 295 in last year’s UTME but shockingly got 132 this year. “Something is seriously wrong with these results,” he wrote. “These scores don’t reflect the abilities or track records of these students.”
Another user, Chukwuma Pius, also shared his frustration, claiming JAMB sent his daughter a result that doesn’t belong to her. “This is heartbreaking,” he said. “As a retired teacher, I know what she’s capable of. The result they sent cannot be hers.”
These complaints come after JAMB disclosed that over 1.5 million candidates scored below 200 this year, sparking widespread calls for an investigation into the entire process. Reacting to the controversy, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi described the outcome of this year’s UTME as worrisome and emphasized the need for urgent reforms in the education sector.
JAMB has officially released the results for the 2025 UTME, but not without controversy. According to the board, results of 39,834 candidates have been withheld over suspected exam malpractices.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, made the announcement at the board’s headquarters in Bwari, explaining that investigations are ongoing. He also revealed that around 80 individuals are currently under scrutiny for various exam-related offences, with Anambra State topping the list of those being investigated.
