The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has warned promoters of hate speech to desist from making comments capable of plunging Nigeria into another civil war.
The Director-General of NOA, Dr. Garba Abari, gave the warning on Thursday at a news conference in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
He, however, appealed to all Nigerians to promote national cohesion, love and unity in order to sustain the peaceful development of the country.
The NOA boss also directed all state directorates, community orientation and mobilisation officers of the agency to commence peace building sensitisation and advocacy visit to settler communities to reassure them of government’s commitment to their safety and security.
He explained that the directive was part of efforts to address concerns arising from agitations that have led to illegal quit orders and counter-orders issued to some ethnic groups.
The warning from the agency comes a day after the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr John Odigie-Oyegun, described perpetrators of hate speeches as worse than terrorists.
Mr Odigie-Oyegun, who said this on Wednesday in a statement, condemned an audio recording being purportedly circulated as “dangerous and despicable”.
He, therefore, called on security agencies to promptly apprehend those behind the audio recording and other similar acts irrespective of who they are.
