The Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT) has asked President Bola Tinubu to order a full-scale campaign to stop the ongoing genocide in parts of the country.

Rising from their meeting in Enugu, they said the rising insecurity with the latest slaughtering in Benue, Kebbi, Plateau, Imo and Niger and other states should be of paramount concern to any government.

In a statement released after the meeting, signed by Prof. Elo Amucheazi and Secretary Prof. Jerry Chukwuokolo, they stated that no meaningful development would take place in a country with so much insecurity and citizens disillusioned by the current situation.

They said: “The President Tinubu administration has been in office for two years, and much has been expected from the administration. But the insecurity challenge has continued to rise with the latest genocidal slaughtering in Benue, Kebbi, Plateau, Imo and Niger and number of other states. We plead to His Excellency, President Tinubu, to order a full-scale campaign to stop this genocide.

“The slaughter of about two hundred souls in a day in Benue is difficult to endure. If the Army, the Police, the Navy, the Air Force and other law enforcement agencies are not up to the challenge, the president should think of other options. The establishment of state police has been canvassed by all and sundry. Let it be implemented forthwith. It will surely help contain this irresponsibility and provocation”.

The leaders renewed the plea for the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“He has been in detention for over four years, and his agitation is less acrimonious than that of the Yoruba boys and Miyetti Allah. The President does not hate Ndigbo and his activities should not wear that tag,” they added.

The group decried the alleged “posting away from the head office of INEC and JAMB of Igbo computer directors on the eve of the election and examination”, saying the development led to unwholesome and unacceptable results.

It further condemned the recent controversy surrounding the conduct of the JAMB examination, emphasising that a thorough investigation was necessary to address the issue.

“The result was clearly conceived against Ndigbo in all Igbo states and Lagos. We believe the president cannot allow this kind of mischievous exercise against one of the three arms of this country, Ndigbo,” they said

They also insisted on restructuring the country along the lines of a confederation, saying that the sooner it was done, the better for the nation.

“At the same time, we appeal to His Excellency for the reform of the electoral laws of Nigeria. The existing form is faulty, negative in its goals and indeed is a betrayal of the hopes of the country.

“We appeal to His Excellency to look into the illegal proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State. Unless an adequate response is made to the problem, the consequences, either now or later, will not contribute to the development of this country. The governor should be allowed to govern the state, apologies tendered where appropriate, and hawks tamed and directed to focus attention elsewhere,” they added