The Indigenous Igbo Women Assembly (IWA) has issued a strong statement challenging the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, to prioritize action against armed herdsmen terrorizing communities in the South East rather than targeting the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Responding to recent comments made by the CDS—represented by Group Captain Ibrahim Bukar during an engagement in Anambra State—warning against supporting IPOB and its Eastern Security Network through social media or public sentiment, the IWA accused the military of focusing on the wrong threat.

In a statement released on Sunday in Umuahia, IWA National President, Lolo Nneka Chimezie, said that IPOB should not be classified as a terrorist group, but rather a peaceful movement calling for justice and inclusion in the Nigerian federation.

“We want to remind Gen. Musa that IPOB members are not terrorists but our children protesting the marginalisation of the South East,” Chimezie stated. “Since the civil war, Ndigbo have been excluded from major political and security appointments.”

The group urged the military to “move its men to the bush to combat the killer herdsmen killing our farmers and raping women,” accusing authorities of ignoring the real threats to peace in the region.

The IWA also questioned the government’s treatment of IPOB members compared to its handling of violent groups in other regions. “Why are peaceful IPOB members being hunted down while armed bandits and so-called repentant terrorists are being granted amnesty?” the statement asked.

The women’s assembly recalled the heightened tensions in the South East following the deployment of troops under Operation Python Dance during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. “Before the military was sent to the South East, the region was the most peaceful in Nigeria,” the group asserted.

Referencing past violent crackdowns on IPOB supporters—including killings during peaceful demonstrations in Onitsha, Aba, and Port Harcourt—the IWA argued that government aggression has only fueled unrest. They called for genuine dialogue with IPOB to address the group’s concerns, including political marginalisation and security profiling.

The statement also condemned what the women described as “systematic intimidation” of Igbo youth by security operatives at roadblocks and the apparent targeting of communities following attacks on security personnel. “Our youths are migrating in droves, fleeing harassment. Meanwhile, criminal herdsmen are allowed to roam with AK-47s,” the group lamented.

Raising alarm over the influx of unidentified migrants into rural communities, the IWA called for immediate investigation into their presence. “In some villages, these strangers now outnumber the locals,” they warned.

The group concluded by demanding the dismantling of military checkpoints across the South East, labeling them as extortion hubs and sources of hardship for locals. “If Gen. Musa truly wants peace, he should focus on the real threat—killer herdsmen, not IPOB,” Chimezie declared.

The Defence Headquarters has yet to respond to the group’s claims as tensions remain high in the region.