Ohanaeze Ndigbo has said that some Igbo are taking advantage of the alleged attack of Fulani herdsmen in Southeast geopolitical zone to commit crimes.

They are also using the name of Fulani to carry out kidnapping and killing of fellow Igbo in the region, President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Chief John Nnia Nwodo has said.

Lamenting the spate of insecurity in the region and some parts of the country, he said some local traditional rulers and vigilantes are abetting the killers in the region, describing insecurity in the region as “unusual security breaches.”

Nwodo said, “Assassinations, kidnapping and invasion of one or two holy places have been reported in the social and regular media.”

He called on traditional rulers in the region to support and complement the efforts of the security operatives at bringing to justice those who are perpetrating crimes in the southern part of the country.

“Worthy of note is the arrest of those responsible for the murder of two Catholic priests and the kidnap of a Traditional ruler. Useful confessions have been made. As we speak 1,700 forest guards are being recruited. New access roads are being constructed into desolate and hidden areas of our forests,” Sahara Reporters quoted him as saying.

Recalled that a Catholic Parish Priest of St. James the Greater Parish, Ugbawka, in Enugu state, Rev FR Paul Offu was reportedly killed by gunmen on August 1, 2019. They were described as herdsmen. He was killed along Ihe-Agbudu Road in Awgu Local Government Area of the state.

Nwodo stated that a few miscreants among Igbo had exploited the Fulani rampage to engage in kidnapping and murder of innocent citizens.