South-East: Insecurity Siege Continues With No End In Sight

The wave of insecurity in the country’s south-east region has recently reached an alarming level, with blood-curdling incidents of daylight killings.

Two states in the zone, however, have taken the lead, with a high level of insecurity. They are the states of Imo and Anambra.

While cultism may be to blame for some of the insecurity in both states, the majority of it is due to agitation for a separate state, as championed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The state of cultism in Anambra State is alarming, with security forces doing very little to combat it. Cult-related killings have become common in Awka, the capital of Anambra State, with one incident or another occurring every week.

Over the weekend, at least 20 people were killed in Ebenebe, Awka North Local Government Area, during a burial ceremony for a suspected cultist. According to community sources, the deceased was a known cultist who had participated in several operations, killing rivals, and had been warned by his rivals that he was not worthy of a proper burial. When his family attempted to hold a funeral for him, it resulted in an invasion of the area and the resulting casualties, and security agencies have yet to hear of any arrests.

But the greater threat to the people of Anambra is the persistence of rogue gunmen known as “unknown gunmen” (UGM). When the threat first surfaced in 2020, it was blamed on the state’s upcoming governorship election at the time. Despite suspicions that the gunmen were IPOB members, many people insisted the attacks were politically motivated, while the IPOB leadership remained silent. However, the attacks in Anambra have continued long after the governorship election, leaving many people worried about when they will stop.

Anambra has been hit by a slew of gunman attacks in the last two weeks, to the point where some areas of the state have been declared no-go zones due to the frequency of attacks. These are primarily towns near the Imo State border, where separatist elements are said to be setting up camps.

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Prof. I.O Onyemelukwe, the father of Prof. Cheluchi Onyemelukwe, the winner of the Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2021, was assassinated last week. The 84-year-old scholar was said to have traveled to Enugu from his village of Nanka and was returning when the incident occurred. He was said to have chosen the Umunze route over the Enugu-Onitsha expressway, but he was ambushed by gunmen at the Oko axis, who killed him while abducting two men for failing to answer questions posed to them by the gunmen about the agitation for a sovereign state.

In addition, four attacks occurred on the Orsumoghu-Azia-Mbosi-Ihiala road between Friday and Sunday in the previous two weeks, prompting social media warnings urging road users to avoid the road. “Please brethren, do not ply the above route for any reason whatsoever,” Melie Ajuluchuku, a social media user, said in one of the warnings. It has been proven to be a significant security risk. Unknown gunmen have taken over the place at random, wreaking havoc on people’s lives and property.”

In addition, Chief Gab Ofoma (Ojemba Enweilo Nnewi), Chairman/CEO of Ofoma Associates Ltd, a well-known businessman in Port Harcourt, was gunned down in cold blood as his driver took a detour from the Onitsha-Owerri highway en route to Port Harcourt due to traffic congestion on the expressway.

Another social media user, who went by the handle Osddy, detailed how he was pursued by gunmen on the same road. He stated, ”

“I was on a trip with my cousin.” We took a detour through Orsumoghu road because the vehicles coming from the Onitsha lane had stretched for over 500 meters. My cousin noticed a white Hilux pulling out from the side of the road as we climbed the road breaker to enter Mbosi town in the Ihiala Local Government Area. It was obvious that we were the prey as I looked back in my rearview mirror. They were speeding up to catch up to me.

“I was driving a Toyota Tundra truck, by the way.” I immediately accelerated, and what unfolded was reminiscent of a James Bond film. We were jumping all the road bumps and speeding like hell for almost a kilometer.

“They started shooting at us after about a kilometer.” I wasn’t deterred, and I just kept driving. They eventually slammed into one of my rear tyres, but I continued driving. There were abandoned vehicles littering the road, and there was chaos everywhere.

“They came to a halt, turned around, and drove away when my vehicle was barely moving.” I drove into a mechanic’s shop, jumped out with my cousin, and ran for another 200 meters.

“Everyone began fleeing, resulting in yet more chaos.” To cut a long story short, we surveyed the area after about 30 minutes and managed to get some Good Samaritans to change our tyre before continuing on our journey to Port Harcourt.”

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On the same Monday, another couple was kidnapped in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area of the State, but were later released. The couple was reportedly on their way to Owerri Airport in Imo State when the incident occurred. They were later identified as a medical doctor and her businessman husband, both of whom were based in Lagos. The couple was later dropped off by the hoodlums at Ukpor, Nnewi South local government area of the State at midnight on Monday, according to a senior police officer who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity.

An anonymous social media user recounted his own experience of having his brother kidnapped and being asked to bring N200,000 to free him. He claimed he set out for Lilu, where he was asked to bring money to the kidnappers, but was later driven into the camp on a motorbike by a gang member who accosted him on the way. He claimed that chippings were used to block the Lilu road at one point to prevent security forces from invading their camp.

“I was shocked to see a woman selling beer there (kidnappers’ camp) and some girls who add spice to their lives (prostitutes) were there singing and clapping, so I bought them beer and they were 25 in number,” the man said. When the GOC saw me, he asked why they had brought me there. They informed him that I had come to see my brother. They dragged him out and knelt him in front of me. He said he liked my guts, he asked them to bring out my brother, and he ordered 4 of his men to escort us to that Ukpor junction when I told him how I got a call and how I came to save my brother. The GOC advised me to pray for the release of MNK (Mazi Nnamdi Kanu). I brought them what they asked for and gave them 20k to drink, but the majority of them spoke Abakaliki dialect.

“The experience isn’t worth repeating; Lilu town has been taken over by insurgents and is now like Sambisa forest.” There is no longer any life there; Intelligence can be found everywhere. We’re in big trouble in Anambra South, which is unfortunate because these guys are mean and small boys. Lilu, Orsumoghu, Azia, Isekke, and Ukpor are in grave danger, which is extremely unfortunate,” he explained.

Meanwhile, as the wave of insecurity continues, various stakeholders have attempted to weigh in on the best ways to stem the tide. The Elders’ Council of Anambra State has condemned the state’s ongoing criminality.

During the Council’s last meeting before Governor Willie Obiano’s administration ended, the Chairman, who was also a former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, signed a communiqué saying that youth empowerment can be an antidote to youth involvement in crimes. Traditional rulers, community Presidents-General, and other stakeholders were urged by the council to ensure that their youths are imbued with the right values and avoid destructive vices such as violence and drug abuse.

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Mr Valentine Ozigbo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Anambra in 2021, has also joined in the condemnation. Ozigbo, who chose to speak about the mass murder last weekend at a funeral ceremony in Ebenebe, Awka North LGA of Anambra State, described it as a tragic incident that was shocking and unacceptable, and that it was a horror that should be condemned collectively.

“The South East, particularly Anambra State, has witnessed tragic waves of violence that have claimed the lives of hundreds of our people, both young and old,” Ozigbo said, offering a solution to the general insecurity. This latest incident is a watershed moment in the decline of our Igbo values, and it should be unacceptable to all of us. As leaders, we must intervene. This is not a problem that should be handled with kid gloves or swept under the rug.”

“Not just the symptoms, but the root cause of this anomaly must be addressed.” We need to go back to the drawing board, rethink our values, emphasize moral values, and protect human life. Importantly, thought leaders, political, traditional, women, and youth leaders must come together as soon as possible to re-evaluate our moral code. “We need to take action now to stop this trend before it consumes us all,” Ozigbo warned.

Catholic Bishops in Anambra State, under the Archdiocese of Onitsha, have declared 40 days of prayer and fasting over the state’s level of insecurity, bringing a spiritual perspective to the search for a solution.

According to a press release signed for and on behalf of the Catholic Bishops of Onitsha Province by Most Rev. Valerian M. Okeke, Archbishop of Onitsha and Metropolitan Ecclesiastical Province, there was a need for divine intervention over what was happening in the state.

“For quite some time now, the South-eastern jurisdiction that God entrusted to our pastoral care has become a theater of ungodly and wanton destruction of life and property,” the release stated. The forces of darkness and death appear to have cast their shadows over our country’s south-eastern region. This is not part of our history or our identity as a people. Many people are tempted to lose faith in God and hope in man in the midst of these tragedies.

“Against this backdrop of despair, we, the Archbishop and Bishops of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, send you this message of hope and a call to prayer, particularly during this holy season of lent.” We are certain that those who place their faith in the Lord will never be disappointed.”

According to the release, the prayers will begin on Wednesday, the first day of the Lenten season, and will last for 40 days, culminating in the Easter celebration.

The Bishops explained that the prayers are for security and peace in Nigeria’s south-east, for God to change the hearts of the murderers and make them once again recognize the sacredness of human life, and for Nigeria to be a place where justice and equity reign.

“We pray that God grant the Federal Government of Nigeria, as well as some of our own political leaders, the courage and honesty to discuss the challenges facing the South-eastern region, which are contributing to youth restiveness and violence in our region. All of our Province’s dioceses have agreed to begin praying for peace and security on Ash Wednesday, March 2, 2022. The prayers will be held for a period of 40 days (from Ash Wednesday, 2nd March to Palm Sunday, 10th April, 2022).

“During the Lenten season, everyone will fast on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays. On such days, we recommend that people avoid eating before noon.

“We appeal to everyone, as individuals, families, associations, and parishes, to express their feelings.”

“During this Lenten season, pray rosaries every day and faithfully so that this cloud of bloodletting hanging over our region will collapse like the walls of Jericho,” the clergymen said.

Security agencies, for their part, have been working to halt the dreadful trend.

The Army’s public relations unit recently announced that it had invaded the Eastern Security Network’s (ESN) camp in Lilu and dislodged its operatives, killing many and recovering arms and ammunition.

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The Anambra State Police Command, through its public relations unit, also announced that it had recently recovered exotic vehicles that had been taken from their owners by separatist elements, and urged their owners to come forward for identification and collection.