Igbo Are Behind South-East Killings, Not Herdsmen; Says Joe Igbokwe
Joe Igbokwe, chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Drainage and Water Resources, has claimed that the killings in the South-East region of Nigeria are being carried out by the Igbo and not herdsmen.
Igbo, who hails from Anambra State, made the claim in Facebook posts on Thursday where he condemned what he described as “blatant and pathological lies” surrounding the unrest in the region.
According to him, the killings and the destruction are being carried out by fellow Igbos, not external aggressors.
He wrote, “The blatant and pathological lies about the killings and destruction in the South East can no longer stand.
“It is Igbo killing Igbo, it is Igbo destroying Igboland and put the blame on Hausa/Fulani Herdsmen. This is not our culture. This is sad.”
Igbokwe claimed that the violence in the South-East was self-inflicted and warned against hiding behind ethnic scapegoating.
He alleged that South-East politicians had been using gunmen to win elections since 2015 and that they had been using them for other series of criminal and illegal activities.
“Since 2015 politicians in the SE have been using these gunmen to win elections, they use them to fight their opponents, they use them settle family disputes, they use to grab other people’s lands, they use them as security personnels. They pay them,” he alleged in another post.
According to him, if the five South-East governors want to end killings and insecurity in the region, they should meet with President Bola Tinubu, plead with him to direct the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu on what to do and the killings and insecurity in the South-East will end immediately.
He wrote, “The five South-East Governors know what to do to stop the criminals in the zone and restore sanity.
“Go and meet PBAT and ask for the use of the Federal might to clear the Augean Stable. PBAT will tell SA, Nuhu Ribadu what to do. Simple.”
On Wednesday, Igbokwe raised concerns over what he described as the growing threat of ethnic bigotry in Nigeria.
In a post on his Facebook page, Igbokwe cautioned Nigerians about the dangers of deepening ethnic divisions.
“Good morning Nigerians! Ethnic bigotry is growing hopelessly like wildfire in Nigeria and our eyes are not open to see the danger,” Igbokwe wrote.
“I pray that the veil covering our eyes will be removed so that we can see clearly. Make we de play ooo.”
Igbokwe’s comments come amid renewed debates over insecurity and social cohesion in Nigeria, especially in regions grappling with armed attacks and separatist agitations.
