A Pan-Southeast group, Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT), has warned that Nigeria is sliding dangerously towards a total breakdown of law and order, calling for urgent intervention from the United States to stop what the group described as escalating genocide against Christians and worsening insecurity across the country.

The group’s President, Professor Elo Amucheazi, and its Secretary, Professor Jerry Chukwuokolo, stated this during a press conference, where they signed a joint communiqué urging decisive international action.

Professor Amucheazi said the ILT could no longer remain silent in the face of the country’s deteriorating security situation, describing the moment as reminiscent of the crises that preceded the 1960s pogrom.

“Elders do not stay to see the tethered goat give birth. Nigeria is going adrift just like it did with ‘Operation Wetie’ and the ‘wild, wild West’ that led to the avoidable genocide of Ndigbo,” he said.

The statement added that the group had reviewed the tense atmosphere in the country and concluded that “some think the country has broken down, and full-scale war is about to break out.”

It said reports of mass killings, abductions and the closure of Federal Government schools suggested that government authority had weakened dangerously. “The question then is whether there is still a government in the country.”

The ILT cited a recent report by human rights group Intersociety, which documented 101 killings of Christians and over 100 abductions across multiple states within 14 days.

The group accused some political actors of trivialising the crisis, despite what it described as clear evidence of genocide carried out by jihadist groups. “We cannot continue in this lackadaisical manner as a country,” the leaders said.

They praised the United States for expressing concern over Nigeria’s security collapse, saying ILT “welcomes this humane consideration” and appeals for “immediate intervention before the terrorists achieve their goal of complete annihilation and decimation of the indigenous Nigerian peoples.”

They thanked President Donald Trump for America’s stance, adding that the US could help “chase away these bandits, stop their sponsors, and establish a framework for restructuring the country into independent states held together as a confederation.”

The communiqué listed several reasons the group believes American intervention is necessary, including allegations that some Nigerian politicians facilitated the entry of armed extremists into the country, failed to stop killings under the Buhari administration, and integrated violent actors into the military.

The ILT also claimed that Christian communities have borne the brunt of the violence in Plateau, Taraba, Benue, Kaduna and other states.

The leaders urged the US to invoke the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and enforce Executive Order 13886 to sanction individuals and entities accused of aiding or sponsoring terrorism.

They said these measures would freeze assets, block dollar transactions and revoke visas, stressing that “over a hundred of these criminals will be affected.”

They further asked the US to pressure Nigerian leaders into restructuring the country, insisting that a return to state or regional security commands, similar to the arrangements agreed in the 1967 Aburi Accord, was essential to restoring peace. “There is no alternative to this,” the group said.

On the trial of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, the ILT described his conviction as “unjust, illegal and politically motivated,” demanding his “immediate, unconditional release, compensation and rehabilitation.”

They also condemned what they called the “immoral and illegal profiling” of Igbo businesses in Lagos, warning that such actions amounted to ethnic cleansing.

The group expressed deep concern over intelligence suggesting that Boko Haram, ISWAP and bandit groups were moving southwards, saying the situation appeared to be “quite chaotic” and thereby fuelling speculation of an imminent open shooting war.

They urged the US to examine Nigeria’s situation in the same way global powers once intervened in Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and other countries.

ILT cautioned against inflammatory rhetoric targeting the Igbo, warning that such narratives echoed the lies that led to the 1967–1970 genocide.

“History should not be allowed to repeat,” they said, calling on security agencies to prosecute individuals inciting hatred against Ndigbo.

In their final appeal, the leaders said the United States should consider “an intervention that could include the invasion of Nigeria to disperse the numerous bandits that now harass the nation.” (The Sun)

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