Ohanaeze condemns South-East governors’ silence as over 300 Igbos are killed, calling it a collapse of governance and urgent crisis
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has issued a scathing rebuke of South-East governors, accusing them of failing their people amid escalating violence and mass killings across the region.
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In a powerful statement released on Tuesday by its Deputy President, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the group decried what it called a “conspiracy of silence” surrounding the murder of over 300 Igbos in the first quarter of 2025.
These killings, allegedly carried out by Fulani herdsmen, were described as not only a humanitarian crisis but also a glaring sign of failed leadership and deteriorating governance.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo finds it imperative to express its profound concern regarding the egregious reports detailing the brutal killings of over 300 individuals in the South-East during the first quarter of 2025,” the statement read.
It continued, “This heinous loss of life, compounded by the conspicuous conspiracy of silence exhibited by our South-East governors, represents a dual tragedy that the Igbo nation categorically deems unacceptable.”
The group went further to describe the governors’ inaction not just as negligence but as a betrayal of duty. It lamented the governors’ passivity as Fulani militias allegedly wage an “unfolding siege” on Igbo communities, leaving innocent farmers and villagers vulnerable and unprotected.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo delivers this wake-up message with urgency,” the group declared, invoking the memory of revered Igbo leaders including Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Dr Michael Okpara, and Dim Odimegwu Ojukwu.
“These legendary forebears would undoubtedly express profound dismay over the craven silence and hypocrisy displayed by current South-East governors.”
According to the group, the current wave of violence in the region is not just an ethnic or local issue but a matter that warrants international concern.
“Let the international community bear witness: Igboland is under siege,” the statement declared. “Fulani jihadist terrorists have ruthlessly claimed the lives of approximately 300 Igbos in a span of just three months.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo now demands an immediate cessation of this conspiracy of silence among our governors.”
The organisation issued a bold ultimatum to state authorities, threatening to escalate the issue to President Bola Tinubu if the governors fail to act.
“If this inaction persists, the Igbo Nation will be left with no alternative but to seek federal intervention,” it warned, adding that they would push for the invocation of Section 305 of Nigeria’s Constitution, which allows for a state of emergency to be declared.
Concluding its statement, Ohanaeze urged South-East leaders to break free from complacency and take decisive action to restore peace and protect the lives of their constituents.
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“This is a definitive wake-up call for our governors to earnestly address the grievances of the people and to actively participate in restoring peace and security in the South-East. In unity and vigilance, we stand firm,” the group concluded.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
