An Igbo diaspora pressure group, Concerned Citizens of Igbo Nation in Diaspora (CCIND), has urged communities across the South East states and beyond to quickly respond to the increasing insecurity in their area by forming associations of hunters.
Such association, the group said, is key to a sustainable response to the deteriorating security situation in the zone and the country at large as violent attacks instigated by terror groups intensify.
Several viral videos suggest that forests in the zone have been overrun by armed herders who abduct and terrorise communities at will.
The group, in an open letter signed by its coordinator, Emeka Livingston, noted that the region cannot continue to be silent when terrorists masquerading as armed herders continue to kill their kits and kin in broad daylight, ravaging communities and raping defenseless women.
Giving detailed statistics of attacks in parts of South East in the month of June 2025, the group expressed sadness that political leaders in the zone have switched to silent mode and are not doing anything to stem the tide of rising violent attacks from armed herders.
“In recent weeks, certain adverse events that have surged in Igboland – from Ebonyi, Enugu, and Anambra, to Imo and Abia states, call for serious concern from all well-meaning sons and daughters of Ndigbo. The security situation has deteriorated to a significant loss of lives and properties in the South East, and this is very worrisome.
“In the month of June 2025 alone, terrorists deceptively labeled as herdsmen and bandits struck yet again in a vicious attack in Agwa and several other communities in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, leaving many dead and critically injured – including a pregnant woman. The innocent victims were in their homes and farms when these heavily armed herdsmen terrorists invaded them
communities in the evening of the first day of June 2025, killed a United States-based returnee, abducted his wife in Umuguma, Owerri West local government area, Imo State. In Enugu State, two different herdsmen terrorist attacks occurred within a space of one week.
“The latest occurred on June 9, 2025, when these terrorists invaded Eha-Amufu, a frequent target, in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, killing several people in Mgbuji autonomous community. Following this was on June 12, 2025, in Umuahia-Akara Road, Abia State, when these terrorists kidnapped all eight passengers and the driver in a Toyota Sienna vehicle and disappeared into the forest. It is very worrisome that these terrorists always get away with their heinous crimes in Igboland,” Livingston said.