The apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has announced that the Southeast region will not partake in the nationwide protests scheduled for October 1. Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the group’s Secretary General, issued a statement on September 29 clarifying their position.

Isiguzoro disclosed that organizers of the protests, referred to as “Fearless and National Survival Day,” have been pressuring Southeast residents and Igbo communities across Nigeria to join the demonstrations. “These forces are aggressively trying to pull our people from the Southeast and Igbos across the country into this movement,” Isiguzoro explained.

He further alleged that two former presidential candidates from the 2023 elections are behind the protests, using civil society organizations as surrogates to rally support from the Southeast and the broader Igbo community.

While acknowledging the economic difficulties affecting the Igbo community, particularly from the naira devaluation, Isiguzoro warned that joining the protests could have dangerous repercussions. He emphasized that the protests may be part of a political scheme by elites and opposition figures aiming to use the Igbos as political tools.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo urged the community to refrain from participating, cautioning that involvement could escalate tensions and expose the Igbos to potential targeting and scapegoating in a larger political agenda.