IKENNA OBIANERI writes on the actions of gunmen in Anambra State as they proceed to unleash terror and concern within the minds of the state’s residents, the newest being the killings in Nibo on Sunday, the place not less than 13 individuals have been killed by suspected cultists
On Sunday, the annual New Yam competition in Nibo group in Awka South Native Authorities Space of Anambra State turned to a competition of blood when no fewer than 13 individuals have been killed by suspected cult teams.
The suspects have been stated to have invaded a consuming bar, close to Oye Nwochichi Market, by Nibo Previous Maternity, near the venue of the New Yam competition, and opened hearth on the individuals having enjoyable there, killing about eight individuals immediately, earlier than continuing to a different locality close to Eke Nibo Market, the place additionally they recorded some casualties.
It was a free move of bloodshed in Nibo, a group near the Governor’s Lodge, the residence of the state governor, Chukwuma Soludo. Identical to Nibo, Nodu-Okpuno group, additionally in Awka South LGA, witnessed bloodshed when about three individuals have been felled by hoodlums.
In latest instances, Awka and its environs have been underneath the tight grip of cultists with clashes between rival teams reportedly killing over 20 individuals since Easter Sunday of this 12 months, when the killings reportedly began.
Extra worrisome is the truth that these communities are situated close to the Governor’s Lodge and in addition the operational headquarters of the Anambra State Police Command, but the hoodlums have continued their killing spree with out a lot resistance from the safety operatives.
Anambra State prides itself as ‘The Mild of The Nation’, however actions of hoodlums within the state appear to have deemed “mild” as they wreak havoc persistently.
Apart the Nibo killings, occasions of gunmen resulting in collection of kidnappings, killings and wanton destruction of lives and properties within the state prior to now few weeks have lent credence to the truth that the state doesn’t illuminate mild. The hoodlums have continued to color gloomy footage of concern and panic on residents throughout the state.
Regardless of efforts and interventions by safety brokers and the state authorities, the hoodlums have continued to develop in notoriety, significantly in border communities and hinterlands the place their nefarious actions have halted financial and industrial actions in addition to inhibiting the residing situations of residents.
As an example, rigidity was heightened throughout the state two weeks in the past when information filtered in that some sports activities journalists, who have been travelling to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State by Isseke-Orlu Highway in Ihiala Native Authorities Space of Anambra State, have been kidnapped by some hoodlums. The victims have been on their solution to Uyo to cowl the Nigeria versus Libya Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match on the Godswill Akpabio Worldwide Stadium in Uyo, on October 11.
The automobile they have been travelling in was stated to have been attacked by the hoodlums in Isseke, a border group in Anambra State. Whereas six of the victims have been rescued by safety operatives, three individuals have been reportedly killed and one individual nonetheless lacking until date. Two law enforcement officials have been stated to have additionally been killed within the course of.
“We intercepted the knowledge of their kidnap as was being shared on varied social media platforms on Wednesday, and we went to work instantly,” spokesman of the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, informed journalists.
“As I converse to you, a joint operation is ongoing. The joint safety forces have efficiently rescued six members of the media crew who have been kidnapped whereas travelling from Lagos to Uyo alongside Isseke-Orlu Highway in Ihiala. In the meantime, operations are nonetheless ongoing for the attainable rescue of the seventh crew member. Additional improvement shall be communicated.”
Findings and up to date happenings have proven that kidnappers have intensified their nefarious actions in Anambra in latest weeks, digging deep into communities and industrial nerve centres hitherto thought-about protected. No less than in the previous few weeks, the scoundrels have prolonged their actions to authorities officers, monks, conventional rulers and naturally, businessmen, with important ransoms paid to them.
The South-East area, significantly Anambra State, has come underneath a collection of assaults within the fingers of those hoodlums masquerading within the guise of secessionist motion. However extra worrisome to residents and stakeholders is the truth that the safety operatives appear overwhelmed. This, based on the residents, is as a result of the rampaging gunmen have continued to carry the state governments and the individuals hostage, with their nefarious actions and a number of other directives to the individuals of the area.
Though, whereas their dastardly actions appear to have been regularly curtailed in Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi states, Anambra and Imo states have continued to report excessive instances of kidnapping, killings and different assaults carried out by these hoodlums. The hoodlums a lot of the instances compelled residents to stay indoors (the sit-at-home order) towards their will.
Every day, residents, particularly on the border cities and agrarian communities, battle these miscreants who function with none problem from regulation enforcement brokers.
Based on a report launched on Monday final week by a safety group within the area generally known as South East Safety Discussion board, these hoodlums have camps and “operational bases” in locations similar to Tango One and Two in Ihiala LGA, Mom Valley in Nnewi, Nnewi LGA, Burrow Pit Camp, Orsumoghu, Ogbunka Camp in Orumba South LGA. Others are Ogwuaniocha/Osomala in Ogbaru LGA, Uli/Lilu, Mbosi, Ihiala LGA, Nkwelle Ezunaka in Oyi LGA, Orsumogho-Ihitenansa by Ukpor camp and Ihiala camp.
Talking to our correspondent on the event, the Coordinator, SESF, Dr Clement Aniogwu, stated, “Nonetheless, regardless of the data of the existence of those camps, the safety companies have did not efficiently take the onslaught to them, thereby subjecting the individuals to the mercy of those hoodlums, who function underneath the guise of secessionist motion.
“Analysis confirmed that almost all of those assaults have been coordinately carried out from these camps. It’s unpalatable that our safety forces haven’t been capable of dislodge them from these unlawful camps. That is the explanation we now have at all times known as for whole overhauling of the safety equipment in Anambra.
“Now we have it on good account that there are some insiders throughout the safety companies feeding the hoodlums with info on their modus operandi and that’s the reason they’re at all times capable of launch assaults on safety services, killed safety brokers and go away with out a lot hitch.
“As an example, most instances, earlier than operatives of the joint safety job power and different safety companies launch offensives towards them at their camps, info would have reached the hoodlums and they might disperse and go into hiding earlier than the safety operatives would get there. Folks say it’s as a result of the hoodlums use charms. No, it’s due to the knowledge they have been fed with by the insiders.
“There’s want for a complete overhaul of safety equipment and the adoption of strategic, intelligence and technology-driven strategy to deal with this ugly menace that’s quick turning into a cankerworm. Our safety operatives also needs to look inward and fish out these collaborating with the hoodlums. Synergy with the locals can also be wanted to attain this as a result of these individuals know themselves.”
On assumption of workplace in March 2022, the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, made safety one among his high priorities, and matched phrases with motion in his inaugural speech, when he informed the hoodlums masquerading underneath secessionist motion to come back to the roundtable and embrace dialogue to hunt an finish to the killings and disturbances.
The governor challenged the agitators to come back out from their hiding locations and drop their weapons and key into the empowerment programme his authorities had deliberate for them. He informed them that failure to embrace the peace initiative would go away the federal government with out a selection however to begin taking decisive actions as their “agitations” had grow to be “misplaced” and “criminalized.”
Nonetheless, over two years after, these hoodlums have continued to unleash assaults with many lives, together with that of safety operatives, misplaced and property, each private and non-private, destroyed, whereas a number of safety services and native authorities headquarters have been razed.
On September 30, the hoodlums murdered two police operatives on an investigative mission, in Uruagu, Nnewi North LGA. Preliminary info revealed that the armed males began taking pictures sporadically on sighting the police operatives and threw an improvised explosive into their operational automobile. Sadly, two of the operatives paid the supreme value whereas the automobile caught hearth.
Additionally, at Umunze in Orumba South LGA, hoodlums, stated to be members of an armed secessionist group, within the early hours of September 16 attacked the Umunze Police Station. The assailants invaded the police facility with improvised explosives, taking pictures sporadically and razing part of the station. Sadly, two of the police operatives on responsibility died in the course of the gun battle.
Aside from these, the hoodlums have additionally carried out a number of kidnappings. In September 2023, the Chairman of Mgbuka Amazu Market, in Onitsha, Enibe Francis, was kidnapped at his enterprise place by hoodlums. Until date, his whereabouts have remained unknown. Additionally, three weeks in the past, a businessman was kidnapped, gruesomely killed and his corpse corpse dumped inside a gutter by Nkwelle space, alongside the Onitsha-Awka-Enugu Expressway. About 5 lives have been additionally not too long ago misplaced when gunmen attacked a group in Njikoka LGA.
Clerics and group leaders haven’t been spared, with some kidnapped, whereas some others have been killed even after paying hundreds of thousands of naira as ransom to the abductors; solely only a few have managed to return house.
Whereas the state police spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed all these assaults, there has not been any proof that the police have apprehended any of those criminals in latest instances as he retains assuring residents, “Investigations are ongoing and particulars will probably be communicated later.” And days rolled into weeks and months and the assaults are forgotten. This has been the type of the police authorities within the state.
Nonetheless, the law enforcement officials will not be spared; findings present that over 10 law enforcement officials have misplaced their lives to the gunmen and a number of other police stations burnt by the hoodlums within the final three months.
In the meantime, residents of those communities have continued to reside in concern, arising from actions of gunmen and hoodlums of their localities. Findings by our correspondent, who visited the Isseke, Lilu and Amorka communities in Ihiala LGA, confirmed that the “lethal group”, as they’re termed by the locals, have held the inhabitants hostage since 2015.
Ihiala, a border group between Anambra and Imo states, is without doubt one of the extremely populated areas of the state, and has been underneath intense insecurity because of actions of gunmen, who discover the hilly group a protected haven for his or her nefarious acts. That is regardless of the a number of onslaughts from safety companies in tackling the menace in latest instances.
Talking to our correspondent, an 80-year-old group chief in Isseke, Tobias Ijeh, stated, “These miscreants, who conceal underneath the secessionist agitation, have grow to be a nightmare within the South-East. IPOB has not been capable of realise their dream of a Biafra nation, however its acclaimed fighters go about destroying the individuals they’re claiming to liberate. We all know they don’t seem to be IPOB members; they’re criminals hiding underneath the guise of freedom fighters. Biafra continues to be very far in sight, however these acclaimed fighters go about killing their very own brothers and sisters on the slightest provocation and our safety operatives appear to have been overwhelmed.
“These hoodlums don’t need anybody to take up authorities job; they don’t need to see any safety officer. If you’re suspected to be a authorities official, or they see you in an unique automobile, they arrive after you. They set ablaze safety formations, burn palaces, homes and destroy technique of livelihoods within the communities, thereby turning the entire place right into a ghost city.
“At their will, they perpetually lockdown individuals at house within the identify of sit-at-home. If there’s a ceremony like a funeral, you could take permission from them and pay them a specific amount with drinks earlier than you’re allowed. That is what these claiming to agitate for Biafra do to us for no justifiable causes. They do all these to us after we haven’t bought Biafra. My query has at all times been: what would be the situation of the typical Igbo man ought to Biafra come at the moment? Once you converse towards their nefarious actions, they arrive after you. At my age, I have to proceed to talk towards evil with none concern as a result of I’ve seen all of it.”
Additionally, lending her voice, an octogenarian and Lilu group chief, Mgbeke Onyeama, a retired college trainer, stated they’ve been compelled to remain indoors each Monday.
“They’ve taken our Mondays away from us, individuals now not exit to do enterprise on Mondays. Our as soon as peaceable communities have been was warfare zones within the identify of agitation. I ponder how these individuals cause. Are they actually anticipating to reach their dream mission whereas killing their very own brothers? You possibly can now not maintain any burial or ceremony with out going to take permission from these boys and in addition pay them closely to permit you.
“Folks can now not go to farm; agriculture is regularly dying within the area. Folks within the diaspora now not return house, and anybody who dangers coming house accomplish that in disguise. A complete reorientation is inevitable as a result of the youths and all of the individuals believing the unlawful secessionist agitators have strongly been brainwashed that when it arrives, everyone will probably be settled with $100,000 every for them to enter buying and selling, or for these whose companies have did not revive their companies. None of them is considering of manufacturing or farming anymore.”
Nonetheless, when contacted, the IPOB spokesman, Emma Highly effective, denied any involvement of IPOB members within the destruction of property and killings within the communities, insisting that the “felony components” will not be members of IPOB.
Highly effective stated, “Now we have known as out the criminals and agent provocateurs closely funded by some governors and a few politicians and businessmen and ladies. The police and different safety companies are conscious of this however they’ve did not do the needful.
“Any group working any camp within the above-mentioned areas and communities will not be IPOB/ESN operatives. They’re both organised felony gangs or agent provocateurs working with the federal government’s double brokers. The Federal Authorities and its fraudulent safety companies know the reality, however selected to blackmail IPOB/ESN.”
When contacted on what the safety operatives have been doing to fight these criminals, Ikenga insisted that Anambra was protected and the police profitable the battle towards the unknown gunmen.
“We’re profitable the battle towards the unknown gunmen. Normalcy has returned to communities that was lethal zones within the fingers of the gunmen. Right this moment, Anambra is protected and peaceable as a result of some law enforcement officials have labored onerous for it,” the Anambra command spokesman stated.