A prominent pan-Igbo group, the Igbo National Union Worldwide (INU-W), has called on all State Houses of Assembly in the Southeast to urgently enact laws prohibiting open grazing, citing the persistent attacks and human rights abuses allegedly perpetrated by armed herdsmen in the region.
In a press statement issued by the group’s National President, Ngozi Ogbomor, and Administrative Secretary, Austin Mary Ndukwu, INU-W condemned the wave of killings, destruction of farmlands, and sexual violence against women, allegedly committed by terrorists masquerading as Fulani herdsmen.
According to Hobnob News, the group said it is clear that security agencies have failed to apprehend or prosecute perpetrators, despite the severity of the attacks.
“In recent times, the five core Igbo states – Enugu, Imo, Abia, Anambra, and Ebonyi – have witnessed countless series of attacks by murderous terrorists masquerading as herdsmen,” the group said.
“Are we going to fold our hands and pretend nothing is happening while they continue to kill us, rape our women, destroy our farmlands and properties?”
INU-W urged communities across the Southeast to form vigilante outfits to protect their lands and families, emphasizing that the current state of insecurity had spiraled beyond what state security forces could handle.
The group also berated the inaction of the federal government, accusing it of failing to safeguard lives in Igbo land. It stressed the need for Igbo stakeholders, including traditional rulers, town union leaders, market associations, youth groups, women leaders, and industrialists, to rise collectively and defend their homeland.
“We should not fold our hands but rise with full force to stop the carnage and defend ourselves,” the statement added.
INU-W’s call comes amid growing frustrations over the region’s deteriorating security situation, and a renewed push for regional legislative action to protect rural communities from further violence.
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