Recent in-depth research conducted by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), Nigeria’s foremost civil rights advocacy group, uncovers a troubling and urgent situation across the southeastern region of Nigeria. The investigation reveals that no fewer than 950 locations within approximately 770-800 Igbo communities—out of a total of 1,940—are either under active occupation or facing imminent threat from armed Fulani herdsmen and their allies.

This disturbing statistic indicates that nearly 40% of all Igbo communities in Southeast Nigeria are at grave risk of falling under jihadist control or suffering attacks. These communities, rooted in deep cultural, religious, and ethnic identities, are facing existential threats driven by both land grab schemes and violent herdsmen incursions.

The Conspiratorial Role of Political and Religious Leadership

A core finding of this investigation points to a conspiratorial nexus involving five southeastern Christian governors, including four Catholic-led states (Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo) and a Seventh-Day Adventist-led Abia State. Evidence suggests their direct or indirect involvement in a clandestine land “swap deal,” facilitated through the secretive issuance of Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) to Fulani jihadists—an act reportedly linked to electoral victories and judicial rulings favouring Fulani settlements in Igbo land.

Alarmingly, our research indicates that these governors have been complicit in land procurement, land ceding, and policy legitimisation of Fulani settlements—actions that endanger the region’s ethnic and religious security. Although some of these leaders had been previously excluded from accusations of promoting violence against Christians, recent discoveries confirm their direct or vicarious roles in facilitating jihadist settlements, threatening the very fabric of Igbo social cohesion.

Silence and Inaction at the Highest Levels

Despite the mounting evidence, these governors have refused to publicly condemn or address the jihadist violence dominating the Southeast. Their refusal to act or speak out raises serious questions about their complicity. This silence extends to top Christian church leaders—including bishops and pastors—who are often closely aligned with political authorities. Many church leaders, including those from Catholic, Anglican, and Pentecostal denominations, have consequently been drawn into the political orbit, losing their independence and moral voice.

Some church figures have even been facilitated by government officials to issue false denials or misinformation during attacks, as seen in recent incidents of herdsmen violence in communities like Eha-Amufu and Isi-Uzo in Enugu State, where church leaders’ voices were subdued even as their congregations suffered.

Looming Dangers and the Broader Security Crisis

The grave dangers faced by southeastern communities are not hypothetical. Our investigation highlights the broader insecurity trend, including the discriminatory bias of national security forces, primarily the armed forces and police, whose actions have been partisan and inadequate since August 2015.

Over the last decade, an estimated 20,500 to 21,000 southeasterners have been killed or injured in various violent incidents, largely attributable to Fulani herdsmen, Jihadist enclaves, and collusion by security agencies. Official security records are silent on the arrests, prosecutions, or neutralisation of these jihadists, further fueling fears of a systematic failure and cover-up. The violence has led to the closure of dozens of churches and the displacement of entire communities, especially in Benue, where Christian communities have been systematically targeted.

In recent weeks, in Benue State alone—Nigeria’s largest Christian state—more than 15 Catholic parishes have been shut down, and over 50 Christians have been murdered in recent clashes, as disclosed by the Catholic Diocesan Priests Association of Makurdi.

An Urgent Call for Action

The investigation underscores an urgent need for national and regional authorities to confront this crisis head-on by exposing the true extent of these settlements, holding perpetrators accountable, and reversing the land grab schemes that threaten peace in the region. Ignoring or tolerating this threat risks not only the security and well-being of millions of southeasterners but also the future cohesion of Nigeria as a multi-ethnic, multi-religious nation.

The findings are available in full in the report here: Full Report PDF. We urge leaders, security agencies, and civil society to take decisive action before it is too late