Prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart and Lagos State aide, Joe Igbokwe, has sparked controversy by asserting that Ndigbo themselves are responsible for the rising wave of insecurity in Nigeria’s South-East region.
In a strongly worded post shared on his official Facebook page on Thursday, Igbokwe dismissed widespread claims that Fulani herdsmen were behind the killings and kidnappings plaguing the region. Instead, he alleged that the violence was largely perpetrated by Igbos themselves.
“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 putting the blame on Hausa/Fulani herdsmen. This is not our culture. This is sad,” the post read.
Igbokwe’s statement comes amid a fresh wave of deadly violence across several South-East states, with Imo and Anambra experiencing multiple incidents of targeted killings, abductions, and property destruction in recent weeks.
One of the latest victims of the region’s security crisis is Ifesinachi Onyekere, a popular Anambra businessman and fish farmer widely known as “Fish Magnet.” Onyekere was reportedly abducted from his residence in Ezinifite, a community in Okpuno, Awka South Local Government Area, and later found dead on Wednesday.
His tragic death has reignited public outrage and further stoked calls for urgent government intervention in the South-East. Human rights activist and social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has announced plans to visit Anambra to lead a candlelight procession in honour of the late Onyekere.
READ ALSO: N7.6trn lost to IPOB sit-at-home as Southeast shifts to POS over Banks
Joe Igbokwe’s controversial remarks have elicited a flurry of reactions online. While some users supported his call for introspection within the Igbo community, many others accused him of oversimplifying a deeply complex crisis and using a divisive narrative to score political points.
Security analysts and local stakeholders have often blamed a cocktail of factors for the deteriorating state of affairs in the South-East, including: The activities of unknown gunmen; Separatist agitations by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB); Breakdown of trust between residents and security agencies; Socioeconomic challenges and youth unemployment
Critics of Igbokwe’s comments say they risk inflaming tensions and deflecting attention from the need for inclusive solutions involving federal, state, and community-based interventions.
The South-East has witnessed escalating insecurity in recent years, especially since the crackdown on secessionist movements. Government institutions, security personnel, and civilians have come under attack, prompting the deployment of military operations across the zone.
Despite these efforts, the region continues to struggle with persistent violence, leading to fears of wider instability and economic disruption.
As political leaders and civil society groups call for dialogue and developmental investment in the region, Igbokwe’s remarks have reignited debates about accountability, internal cohesion, and the role of political elites in fostering unity or division within Nigeria’s diverse regions.