The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has tasked the South-East governors to act proactively in preventing deadly attacks by herders and terrorists in the region.
Ohanaeze said credible reports indicate that these armed groups have successfully infiltrated the South-East in significant numbers, placing the communities in the region under potential siege.
The pan-lgbo group stated that residents of Enugu, Anambra, and Ebonyi States have expressed profound concern over the increasing, and clandestine nighttime movements of these militants crossing into their territory from Benue and Kogi States, unchecked and unchallenged.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the factional Deputy President-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze noted that the current climate is one of acute peril, and the time for complacency has long since passed.
The body said the South-East governors must awaken from their slumber and cease their negligence by taking immediate and effective measures to thwart potential attacks against the Igbo populace in the weeks ahead.
However, Ohanaeze warned against state governments in the region ignoring the threats, but they must act now, rather than relying on ineffective security measures that have proved unreliable.
“Let this serve as a clarion call to all South-East governors. You would be failing in your duty to protect the Igbo people if these infiltrators succeed in replicating the massacres seen in Benue State. Igbos will hold you fully accountable for your inaction.
“The Igbo people will not only seek retribution but will ensure that those responsible for the safety of our communities experience the rightful wrath of the populace.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo demands the immediate establishment of armed vigilante groups across all 95 local government areas in the South-East.
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“Failure to heed this imperative will result in a steadfast backlash from the Igbo people. Any governor who neglects to implement adequate security measures, both formal and informal, will be deemed responsible for any atrocities that occur.
“This negligence will be met with unyielding indignation at the ballot box, as the Igbo population seeks accountability. We implore our people to unify against any suspicious activities that threaten our security.
“We must proactively establish robust local vigilante networks to protect our communities from the threats posed by armed groups lurking within our forests.
“It is no longer feasible to rely solely on assurances from the government for our safety. The responsibility to defend and secure our people lies squarely upon our shoulders.
“Self-defense is not merely an option; it is an essential duty for our collective preservation and survival,” Ohanaeze said.
