Stop Cowardice, Kick Killer Herdsmen Out, Ohanaeze Tells Governors

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has issued a scathing rebuke to Southeast governors over what it describes as their cowardly silence in the face of escalating attacks by killer Fulani herdsmen across Igbo communities.

In a strongly worded statement issued by its President General, Chief Omenazu Jackson, Ohanaeze accused the governors of betraying their constitutional duty by failing to act decisively against the wave of violence that has claimed over 300 Igbo lives in the first quarter of 2025 alone.

“Igboland is under siege,” Jackson declared. “The relentless attacks by these Fulani terrorists have resulted in the tragic deaths of our people. Our once-thriving communities now live in fear, our farmers have abandoned their farmlands, and our cultural life is under direct threat.”

Citing reports of killings in Ahaumafu, Okigwe, Nkalaaha, Uturu, Umunze, and other towns across Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi, Abia, and Anambra states, Ohanaeze lamented that the silence of elected leaders in the region amounted to complicity.

According to Jackson, “The conspiracy of silence among Southeast governors signals not only a failure of governance but an unsettling acceptance of defeat in the face of terror.” He accused the governors of abandoning the legacies of Igbo heroes like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Sam Mbakwe.

Ohanaeze warned that if no visible action is taken within 30 days to “cleanse our land of these killer herdsmen,” the organization will appeal to President Bola Tinubu to invoke Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution and declare a state of emergency in any affected state.

“We cannot continue like this. When leaders fail to provide leadership and refuse to quit, they become a monumental social burden,” Jackson stated. “If you can’t protect your people, resign honorably.”

The group also decried the growing fear that has driven many elderly Igbos to flee abroad, the abandonment of ancestral homes, and the dwindling economic prospects of the region. “Investors are leaving, and our people no longer feel safe to return for Easter, Christmas, or Iri-ji festivals. This is unacceptable,” Jackson said.

Describing the situation as “a ticking time bomb,” he stressed that the rape of women, the displacement of communities, and the looming food insecurity are all indicators of a worsening humanitarian crisis.

Ohanaeze  issued a firm call for bold leadership. “This is a clarion call. Our governors must stop the cowardice, rise to their responsibilities, or step aside for those willing to defend our people. Enough is enough.”