Iyom Bianca Ojukwu, widow of the late Biafran leader and former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, has addressed the ongoing insecurity in Southeast Nigeria. Speaking at the annual convention of the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID) in Charlotte, North Carolina, she highlighted how criminal elements are exploiting the region’s separatist agitation to perpetrate violence.
Bianca pointed out that while insecurity is a national issue, it has worsened in the Southeast due to killings and kidnappings, which have resulted in armed herdsmen and other invaders seizing community farmlands. She stressed that these criminal activities are undermining agricultural, economic, and social activities in Igbo communities.
During the 2024 conference, which gathered military personnel, veterans, and community leaders to discuss pressing issues facing the Igbo homeland, Bianca called on the five Southeast state governors to work together to tackle insecurity. She emphasized the need for the Igbo diaspora to uphold their values and heritage while remaining vigilant about developments back home.
Bianca also reiterated her calls for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, suggesting that his freedom could positively influence the security landscape in the Southeast. She expressed concern that opportunistic criminals have gained an upper hand over security forces, exacerbating the challenges faced by the region