Former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, has once again urged the federal government to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as a crucial step towards addressing the worsening insecurity in the South-East region.
Speaking at the annual convention of the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID) in the United States, a group made up of U.S. military personnel of Igbo ancestry, Mrs. Ojukwu highlighted the urgent need for action. She called on the South-East governors to intensify their cooperation to tackle the rising wave of insecurity, noting that the situation had reached a critical point.
“The insecurity in Igboland is an existential threat to our communities,” she warned, expressing deep concern over the escalating violence, kidnappings, and the forceful takeover of community farmlands by armed herdsmen and other hostile elements. According to her, these challenges have devastated the region’s agricultural potential, crippled economic activities, and disrupted social life in most Igbo communities.
Mrs. Ojukwu also pointed out that criminal groups within the region are exploiting the separatist movement to perpetrate crimes, further weakening the capabilities of security forces. As a result, many residents have fled their homes, leaving once-thriving villages to resemble ghost towns.
She emphasized the pivotal role of the South-East governors, urging them to unite in their efforts to bring the situation under control. Mrs. Ojukwu stressed that the release of Nnamdi Kanu would significantly improve the security landscape in the region.
In her address, the former ambassador also encouraged the Igbo diaspora to continue preserving their identity, heritage, and values. She acknowledged their legitimate concerns about the security crisis, which is not limited to the South-East but is widespread across Nigeria.
Adding his voice to the discussion, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia North, traced the insecurity in the South-East to Kanu’s 2021 arrest and ongoing detention. He questioned the heavy concentration of police and army checkpoints in the region, noting that despite their presence, armed groups still operate with impunity.
Senator Abaribe asserted that only a genuine commitment from the government and security agencies to address the situation would lead to meaningful progress in reducing insecurity nationwide.
This year’s AVID convention, themed “Stand up for your People,” focused on the challenges facing the Igbo homeland, with particular emphasis on the security crisis affecting several states in the South-East. Notable speakers included Hon. Uche Onyeagocha, former Imo State government secretary, business tycoon Chief Dr. Kingson Njoku, Haitian senator Jean Charles Moise, and industrialist John Gregg, among others.
The convention concluded with a panel discussion on the economic prospects of the Eastern Region. Dr. Sly Onyia, President of AVID, announced the association’s ongoing efforts to secure a direct flight route from the United States to the South-East.
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