The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has issued a stern warning, stating that it may be forced to appeal to President Bola Tinubu for the declaration of a state of emergency in the Southeastern states if the ongoing insecurity is not addressed promptly.
The group expressed dissatisfaction with the silence of political leaders, particularly the Governors in the region, in the face of escalating killings and widespread insecurity.
According to Ohanaeze, over 300 lives were lost in the first quarter of 2025 alone due to the violence, which the organization believes is primarily orchestrated by Fulani herdsmen. The group decried the apparent inaction of the Southeast Governors, describing their silence as a tacit acceptance of the violence and the collapse of governance in the region.
In a statement released on Tuesday and signed by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the Deputy President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the organization called for immediate and decisive action from the Southeast Governors to curb the killings. It noted that the failure to address the worsening security situation would leave them with no option but to request intervention from the federal government.
The statement emphasized that if the Governors do not act within a 30-day ultimatum, Ohanaeze Ndigbo would seek the invocation of Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution, which allows for the declaration of a state of emergency. This would be especially targeted at states where the Governor is perceived as inactive or ineffective in protecting the lives and property of citizens.
The organization pointed to specific regions suffering from the attacks, including Ahuamufu and Okigwe in Enugu and Imo states, Nkalaaha in Ebonyi State, Uturu in Abia State, and Umunze in Anambra State. Ohanaeze condemned the lack of resistance to these attacks, calling it a failure of leadership and governance.
“There can be no further delays. It is completely unacceptable that our defenseless farmers are being prevented from accessing their lands, threatening food security for the entire region. The growing fear among our people, which has even kept families from returning home for the upcoming Easter celebrations, makes it clear that the situation has reached a critical point,” the statement read.
Additionally, the organization voiced concern over the negative impact of the insecurity on the region’s economy, with many investors growing disillusioned by the worsening conditions. Ohanaeze stressed that the Southeast is rapidly losing its status as a viable economic destination and warned that the continued passivity of political leaders could further damage the region’s prospects.
The group’s message to the Governors was clear: expel the so-called killer herdsmen from the region within the next 30 days or face the consequences. They urged the Governors to take decisive action and confront the violence head-on with the seriousness and urgency that the situation demands.
In conclusion, Ohanaeze Ndigbo called on Southeast Governors to rise to the occasion, showing courage, leadership, and a commitment to restoring peace and security in the region, noting that the people of the Southeast are counting on their leaders to deliver.
The organization made it clear that this was a critical moment for the region, one that would define its future.
