The pan-Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has issued a strong warning to Southeast governors, demanding swift and decisive action to address rising insecurity across the region—citing Nkalaaha community in Ebonyi State as one of the hardest-hit areas.
In a press statement released on Saturday, April 13, 2025, and signed by its Deputy President General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the group lamented the loss of over 300 lives within the first quarter of the year, attributing most of the violence to suspected Fulani herdsmen.
Nkalaaha, a rural community in Ebonyi State, was specifically mentioned among other flashpoints such as Ehamufu in Enugu, Okigwe in Imo, Uturu in Abia, and Umunze in Anambra State. According to Ohanaeze, these areas have suffered repeated attacks, forcing residents to abandon their farmlands and live in fear.
Ohanaeze expressed disappointment over what it called the “lackadaisical attitude” of Southeast governors towards the security crisis. The group gave the governors a 30-day ultimatum to take meaningful steps to secure lives and property or risk a constitutional demand for the declaration of a state of emergency, as outlined in Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
“The silence of our leaders is no longer golden,” the statement reads. “If nothing is done within the next 30 days, Ohanaeze will be left with no option but to call for emergency rule in states where lives are no longer safe.”
The group warned that the continued attacks pose a major threat to food security, as local farmers are afraid to return to their farms. It also noted that the economic and emotional toll on communities like Nkalaaha is immense, discouraging homecomings and stalling development.
Ohanaeze called on traditional rulers, town union leaders, security operatives, and youth organizations across the Southeast to rise up and protect ancestral lands. It urged Southeast governors to prioritize the safety of their people, especially those in rural communities who are often left unprotected.
In Ebonyi, residents of Nkalaaha and surrounding villages continue to call for improved security presence and government intervention, hoping that the rising concerns from both citizens and groups like Ohanaeze will spur urgent action.
As the 30-day countdown begins, the focus is now on the governors—will they act, or will Ohanaeze push for emergency measures?
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