By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
The apex Igbo sociocultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has issued a stern warning to Southeast governors, urging them to take immediate action against the growing threat of Fulani militias allegedly infiltrating the region from Benue and Kogi States.
In a statement released on Wednesday and signed by its Deputy President General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze accused the governors of negligence and warned that they would be held responsible should attacks similar to the recent massacres in Benue occur in Igboland.
According to the group, credible reports point to clandestine movements of armed groups into Enugu, Anambra, and Ebonyi States, with rising fears among local communities about possible coordinated attacks.
Ohanaeze described the situation as “a climate of acute peril” and demanded an end to what it termed “complacency and conspiracies of silence” by state authorities.
“This is 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,” part of the statement read.
The organization recommended for the immediate formation of armed vigilante groups across all 95 local government areas in the Southeast to bolster local security and deter threats.
It warned that failure to act decisively could result in political consequences for the governors, including at the ballot box.
Ohanaeze also urged residents to organize and defend their communities, emphasizing that relying solely on government security agencies is no longer viable.
“Self-defense is not merely an option; it is an essential duty for our collective preservation,” the group declared.
The call came amid rising insecurity in parts of Nigeria, with increasing concerns over the spread of violent attacks beyond their previous hotspots.
