The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has raised alarm over the infiltration of the Southeast by suspected Fulani militias allegedly responsible for massacres in Benue state.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, deputy president-general of the group, accused Southeast governors of “sleeping on duty” while armed groups quietly penetrated Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi states.
Ohanaeze warned that any future attacks on Igbo communities would be traced back to the governors’ negligence.
The group said: “The current climate is one of acute peril. Southeast governors must awaken from their slumber and take immediate, effective measures to thwart potential attacks.”
The group cited “credible reports” of “clandestine nighttime movements” of suspected militants crossing into Igbo territories from Benue and Kogi states.
It said the pattern of migration mirrors the build-up to previous attacks in the Middle Belt and warned of an impending crisis unless urgent action is taken.
“Let this serve as a clarion call: you are failing in your duty to protect the Igbo people.
“If these infiltrators succeed in replicating the massacres seen in Benue, Igbos will hold you fully accountable,” Isiguzoro said.
Ohanaeze demanded the immediate establishment of armed vigilante groups in all 95 local government areas in the Southeast, stressing that failure to act would result in political consequences.
The group said: “Any governor who neglects to implement adequate security measures will be deemed responsible for any atrocities that occur. This negligence will be met with unyielding indignation at the ballot box.”
The group urged communities to take their security seriously and not rely solely on government assurances.
“Self-defence is not merely an option; it is an essential duty for our collective preservation,” Ohanaeze said.
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.
