Human rights advocate, Chidi Odinkalu, has made a strong claim that politicians are fueling the growing cult violence across the South-East, not the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, as widely assumed.
Odinkalu insisted that political actors are the major financiers of the deadly groups spreading fear in many communities.
He made the statement during an appearance on the Channels Television programme, ‘Politics Today’.
According to him, it is “ridiculous” to attach every crime in the region to IPOB when the real menace is a network of cult gangs operating for political interests.
“Let me tell you this: the biggest single issue, in security terms, confronting the South-East, in my estimation, based on the work I have done on this, is, I regret to disappoint you, not IPOB, it is one word: cults, financed by politicians,” he said.
He warned that the threat posed by these gangs has escalated, yet many people are unaware of how severe the situation has become.
Odinkalu stressed that while IPOB’s activities do contribute to tensions, reducing all incidents to separatist agitation ignores the real security challenge tearing through the region.
However, there are reports that insecurity has continued to worsen in parts of Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi, with attacks on civilians, traditional rulers and security formations becoming more frequent.
As the debate continues, there is a call for transparent investigations to uncover the sponsors and dismantle the networks behind the rising violence.
Recall that the South-East has in recent years witnessed a spike in killings and kidnappings, often blamed on IPOB, despite previous warnings from stakeholders that political cult groups are active players in the crisis.