The apex Igbo socio-cultural body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has attributed the sudden halt in alleged herdsmen attacks in Nigeria’s South-East to the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing the development as both striking and revealing.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its factional Deputy President-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, and spokesperson, Chief Thompson Ohia, the group said the post-2025 period has witnessed a dramatic shift in the region’s security situation.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo acknowledges the significant roles played by the Federal Government and the South-East governors in combating the security challenges that plagued the region.
“However, it cannot be ignored that the most decisive factor in ending this reign of terror was the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2025. Immediately after his passing, there was a perceptible and dramatic reduction in the activities of the Fulani herdsmen militia,” the statement read.
The organization contended that the development’s timing confirms long-standing fears within the Igbo community about the purported support of armed groups under Buhari’s presidency.
“This undeniable sequence of events has reaffirmed the long-held suspicions of the Igbo people that these militias were state-funded under Buhari’s watch.
“The ‘Fulanization Agenda’ promoted during Buhari’s tenure (2015–2023) was a clear manifestation of a partisan and divisive policy that eroded the trust and confidence of Ndigbo in the APC-led Federal Government,” it stated.
Ohanaeze insisted that the South-East had experienced years of conflict before the change, detailing extensive devastation and community dislocation.
“For over six long and harrowing years, these so-called Fulani herdsmen militias unleashed a reign of terror on the South-East, wantonly destroying farmlands and turning the fertile soil of the Igbo heartland into wastelands.
“They occupied forests, using them as bases for their heinous acts, and callously sacked numerous villages, leaving behind a trail of destruction, grief, and displacement,” the group said.
It further claimed that the human toll of the violence was severe.
“The human cost of this terror is incalculable, with over 2,960 innocent Igbos losing their lives and many more sustaining injuries,” it added.
While making the claims, the group also credited the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for improving conditions in the region, noting a renewed sense of safety among residents.
“Thankfully, the current APC-led Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken remarkable steps to restore the trust of the Igbo people.
“There has been a remarkable improvement in security across the region. The Igbo can now sleep more soundly at night, free from the constant fear of attack that had become a norm for far too long,” the statement said.
Ohanaeze also pointed to infrastructure development as part of the administration’s impact.
“President Tinubu’s administration has been instrumental in turning the once-dire infrastructure deficits of the South-East into a promising landscape of growth and accessibility.
“The improvement in road networks and other key infrastructure projects is a testament to his commitment to the region,” it added.
Marking the president’s birthday, the group expressed appreciation for what it described as progress in governance and regional development.
“As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu celebrates his 74th birthday anniversary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo would like to take this opportunity to extend heartfelt birthday wishes and express our deepest gratitude.
“Ndigbo remains indebted to him for bringing about the much-needed transformation in the South-East, turning a region marred by insecurity and underdevelopment into a safe and prosperous environment,” the statement concluded.
