Ohanaeze Ndigbo has faulted Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra over his claim that 99.9% of criminals in the southeast are of Igbo origin, describing the comment as false and damaging to the region’s image.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation said Soludo’s remarks, made during a town hall meeting with the Igbo community in the United States, have de-marketed the region and scared away potential investors.
“It is critical to clarify that the overwhelming majority of criminal activities in the southeast are perpetrated by non-Igbo elements, particularly foreign Fulani militias and terrorists,” the statement reads.
Ohanaeze said the statement sent “chilling shockwaves across the Igbo nation” and amounted to a misrepresentation of the security realities in the region.
The group expressed disappointment, saying Soludo failed to highlight the role of external actors fuelling insecurity in the southeast.
The group asked: “Why did Governor Soludo fail to address the atrocities committed by foreign Fulani herdsmen and militias?
“What was his intention in disseminating such a damaging narrative abroad?”
Ohanaeze said the failure of Southeast governors to take decisive action has worsened the situation, adding that shifting blame to the people only exposes a lack of leadership.
“It is regrettably evident that a predominant failure of leadership, characterised by moral bankruptcy, has manifested among southeast governors,” it said.
The group also criticised the governors for failing to fulfil their July 2, 2024 pledge to engage President Bola Tinubu on the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as part of efforts to ease tensions in the region.
“It stands as testimony to a grave abdication of duty that nothing has come of that pledge,” the statement added.
Ohanaeze called for the immediate establishment of local government vigilante groups to counter rising insecurity and protect communities from what it described as coordinated attacks by external militias.
“Our region is under siege. The time to act is now,” it said.
Signed by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, deputy president general, and Chief Thompson Ohia, national spokesman, the group warned that the people would hold governors accountable for inaction at the polls.
