Southeast Under Seige By Herdsmen Not By Igbo Youths, Ohanaeze Replies Soludo

Alex Odeh

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has refuted claims by Governor Professor Chukwuma Soludo, that 99.9% of the individuals engaged in criminal activities within the Southeast are of Igbo descent.

A press statement signed by the duo of Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Chief Thompson Ohia, Deputy President General and National Spokesman respectively rather Governor Soludo should blame known external Fulani herdsmen and aggressors for the killings in the Southeast.

According to him, Such unfounded assertions are not only erroneous but also serve to inflict irreparable harm upon the reputation of Igbo people, sending shockwaves of dismay throughout the Igbo Nation.

The statement reads: “Governor Soludo’s claims are fundamentally flawed and represent a grave misrepresentation of reality. By suggesting that nearly all of the terrorists and criminals operating in our region are Igbos, he has inadvertently cast an unjust shadow over the entire Southeast, de-marketing our region before prospective foreign investors.

“This egregious error, articulated during the recent Igbo USA Town-Hall Meetings, paints a dire picture of insecurity that endangers our Southeast economic viability and compromises the aspirations of our people.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo takes this opportunity to vehemently refute these claims. The assertion that 99.9% of criminals in the Southeast are Igbos is categorically untrue. This clarification arises from a place of genuine concern for our communities and reflects a reality that has been obscured by the rampant leadership deficiencies and moral failings that have, unfortunately, become characteristic of many Southeast Governors.

“Rather than confronting the pressing issues of Southeast insecurity, these leaders have resorted to creating spurious narratives that shift the burden of failure onto the shoulders of the very Igbo constituents they are sworn to protect. This is an unacceptable dereliction of duty.

“The disappointment among Igbos regarding Governor Soludo’s statement is profound. Evidence overwhelmingly indicates that it is not our youth engaging in the violent criminal activities that have plagued our region. Instead, it is Fulani militias and other external aggressors who are orchestrating the killings and kidnappings.

“We must ask: Why did Governor Soludo neglect to mention the profound atrocities committed by these foreign Fulani militias? What purpose did he serve in stating that 99.9% of culprits apprehended are Igbos during a town-hall meeting millions of miles away in the United States Of America?

“Moreover, the failure of the Southeast Governors to engage with President Tinubu, despite earlier commitments made during their Southeast Governors’ meeting in Enugu State on July 2, 2024, only exacerbates these issues of insecurity. Their promise to actively seek the release of Nnamdi Kanu as a means to quell tensions in the Southeast has gone unfulfilled, demonstrating a troubling trend of inaction that threatens our collective safety.

“This is a clarion call for action: Ohanaeze Ndigbo urges Southeast Governors to awaken from their complacency and embrace the collective indomitable spirit of the Igbo. It is imperative that they establish Local Government Vigilante groups throughout the region, as intelligence suggests that, following the horrific massacre of over 200 individuals by marauding Fulani herdsmen in Benue, similar actions may soon be aimed at our communities in Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, and Abia States. The time to act is now; we must not allow our region to remain vulnerable to external threats that seek to terrorize innocent civilians in schools, markets, and public spaces.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo categorically states that the Southeast is under siege, not by a fabricated narrative of 99.9% Igbo youth being culpable for crime, but rather by known external Fulani herdsmen and aggressors. We demand that excuses cease immediately, and we hold accountable any Governor who fails to protect the lives of their constituents. In the next election cycle, the Igbo people will respond decisively, voting out those elected officials who do not fulfill the sacred promise of safeguarding our communities.

“In conclusion, this press release serves not only as a rebuttal to Governor Soludo’s misguided statements but also as a rallying cry for unity and action among our leaders. The time has come to stand firm, act decisively, and ensure the safety and prosperity of our people”, the statement said.