Anambra residents in distress as blood-thirsty gunmen leave trails of sorrow

IKENNA OBIANERI writes on the activities of gunmen in Anambra State as they continue to unleash terror and fear in the minds of the state’s residents, the latest being the killings in Nibo on Sunday, where at least 13 people were killed by suspected cultists

On Sunday, the annual New Yam festival in Nibo community in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State turned to a festival of blood when no fewer than 13 people were killed by suspected cult groups.

The suspects were said to have invaded a drinking bar, near Oye Nwochichi Market, by Nibo Old Maternity, close to the venue of the New Yam festival, and opened fire on the people having fun there, killing about eight persons instantly, before proceeding to another locality near Eke Nibo Market, where they also recorded some casualties.

It was a free flow of bloodshed in Nibo, a community close to the Governor’s Lodge, the residence of the state governor, Chukwuma Soludo. Just like Nibo, Nodu-Okpuno community, also in Awka South LGA, witnessed bloodshed when about three persons were felled by hoodlums.
In recent times, Awka and its environs have been under the tight grip of cultists with clashes between rival groups reportedly killing over 20 people since Easter Sunday of this year, when the killings reportedly started.

More worrisome is the fact that these communities are located near the Governor’s Lodge and also the operational headquarters of the Anambra State Police Command, yet the hoodlums have continued their killing spree without much resistance from the security operatives.

Anambra State prides itself as ‘The Light of The Nation’, but activities of hoodlums in the state seem to have deemed “light” as they wreak havoc persistently.
Aside the Nibo killings, events of gunmen leading to series of kidnappings, killings and wanton destruction of lives and properties in the state in the past few weeks have lent credence to the fact that the state does not illuminate light. The hoodlums have continued to paint gloomy pictures of fear and panic on residents across the state.

Despite efforts and interventions by security agents and the state government, the hoodlums have continued to grow in notoriety, particularly in border communities and hinterlands where their nefarious activities have halted economic and commercial activities as well as inhibiting the living conditions of residents.

For instance, tension was heightened across the state two weeks ago when news filtered in that some sports journalists, who were travelling to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State through Isseke-Orlu Road in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, were kidnapped by some hoodlums. The victims were on their way to Uyo to cover the Nigeria versus Libya Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, on October 11.

The vehicle they were travelling in was said to have been attacked by the hoodlums in Isseke, a border community in Anambra State. While six of the victims were rescued by security operatives, three persons were reportedly killed and one person still missing till date. Two police officers were said to have also been killed in the process.

“We intercepted the information of their kidnap as was being shared on various social media platforms on Wednesday, and we went to work immediately,” spokesman of the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, told journalists.

“As I speak to you, a joint operation is ongoing. The joint security forces have successfully rescued six members of the media crew who were abducted while travelling from Lagos to Uyo along Isseke-Orlu Road in Ihiala. Meanwhile, operations are still ongoing for the possible rescue of the seventh crew member. Further development shall be communicated.”

Findings and recent happenings have shown that kidnappers have intensified their nefarious activities in Anambra in recent weeks, digging deep into communities and commercial nerve centres hitherto considered safe. At least in the last few weeks, the scoundrels have extended their activities to government officials, priests, traditional rulers and of course, businessmen, with significant ransoms paid to them.
The South-East region, particularly Anambra State, has come under a series of attacks in the hands of these hoodlums masquerading in the guise of secessionist movement. But more worrisome to residents and stakeholders is the fact that the security operatives seem overwhelmed. This, according to the residents, is because the rampaging gunmen have continued to hold the state governments and the people hostage, with their nefarious activities and several directives to the people of the region.

Although, while their dastardly activities seem to have been gradually curtailed in Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi states, Anambra and Imo states have continued to record high cases of kidnapping, killings and other attacks carried out by these hoodlums. The hoodlums most of the times forced residents to remain indoors (the sit-at-home order) against their will.

Daily, residents, especially at the border towns and agrarian communities, battle these miscreants who operate without any challenge from law enforcement agents.

According to a report released on Monday last week by a security group in the region known as South East Security Forum, these hoodlums have camps and “operational bases” in places such as Tango One and Two in Ihiala LGA, Mother 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 through Ukpor camp and Ihiala camp.

Speaking to our correspondent on the development, the Coordinator, SESF, Dr Clement Aniogwu, said, “However, despite the knowledge of the existence of these camps, the security agencies have failed to successfully take the onslaught to them, thereby subjecting the people to the mercy of these hoodlums, who operate under the guise of secessionist movement.

“Research showed that most of these attacks were coordinately carried out from these camps. It is unpalatable that our security forces have not been able to dislodge them from these illegal camps. This is the reason we have always called for total overhauling of the security apparatus in Anambra.

“We have it on good account that there are some insiders within the security agencies feeding the hoodlums with information on their modus operandi and that is why they are always able to launch attacks on security facilities, killed security agents and leave without much hitch.
“For instance, most times, before operatives of the joint security task force and other security agencies launch offensives against them at their camps, information would have reached the hoodlums and they would disperse and go into hiding before the security operatives would get there. People say it is because the hoodlums use charms. No, it is because of the information they were fed with by the insiders.

“There is need for a total overhaul of security apparatus and the adoption of strategic, intelligence and technology-driven approach to tackle this ugly menace that is fast becoming a cankerworm. Our security operatives should also look inward and fish out those collaborating with the hoodlums. Synergy with the locals is also needed to achieve this because these people know themselves.”
On assumption of office in March 2022, the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, made security one of his top priorities, and matched words with action in his inaugural speech, when he told the hoodlums masquerading under secessionist movement to come to the roundtable and embrace dialogue to seek an end to the killings and disturbances.

The governor challenged the agitators to come out from their hiding places and drop their guns and key into the empowerment programme his government had planned for them. He told them that failure to embrace the peace initiative would leave the government without a choice but to start taking decisive actions as their “agitations” had become “misplaced” and “criminalized.”

However, over two years after, these hoodlums have continued to unleash attacks with many lives, including that of security operatives, lost and property, both public and private, destroyed, while several security facilities and local government headquarters were razed.

On September 30, the hoodlums murdered two police operatives on an investigative mission, in Uruagu, Nnewi North LGA. Preliminary information revealed that the armed men started shooting sporadically on sighting the police operatives and threw an improvised explosive into their operational vehicle. Unfortunately, two of the operatives paid the supreme price while the vehicle caught fire.

Also, at Umunze in Orumba South LGA, hoodlums, said to be members of an armed secessionist group, in the early hours of September 16 attacked the Umunze Police Station. The assailants invaded the police facility with improvised explosives, shooting sporadically and razing a part of the station. Unfortunately, two of the police operatives on duty died during the gun battle.
Apart from these, the hoodlums have also carried out several kidnappings. In September 2023, the Chairman of Mgbuka Amazu Market, in Onitsha, Enibe Francis, was kidnapped at his business place by hoodlums. Till date, his whereabouts have remained unknown. Also, three weeks ago, a businessman was abducted, gruesomely killed and his corpse corpse dumped inside a gutter by Nkwelle area, along the Onitsha-Awka-Enugu Expressway. About five lives were also recently lost when gunmen attacked a community in Njikoka LGA.

Clerics and community leaders have not been spared, with some kidnapped, while some others were killed even after paying millions of naira as ransom to the kidnappers; only very few have managed to return home.

While the state police spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed all these attacks, there has not been any evidence that the police have apprehended any of these criminals in recent times as he keeps assuring residents, “Investigations are ongoing and details will be communicated later.” And days rolled into weeks and months and the attacks are forgotten. This has been the style of the police authorities in the state.

However, the police officers are not spared; findings show that over 10 police officers have lost their lives to the gunmen and several police stations burnt by the hoodlums in the last three months.

Meanwhile, residents of these communities have continued to live in fear, arising from activities of gunmen and hoodlums in their localities. Findings by our correspondent, who visited the Isseke, Lilu and Amorka communities in Ihiala LGA, showed that the “deadly group”, as they are termed by the locals, have held the inhabitants hostage since 2015.

Ihiala, a border community between Anambra and Imo states, is one of the highly populated areas of the state, and has been under intense insecurity as a result of activities of gunmen, who find the hilly community a safe haven for their nefarious acts. This is despite the several onslaughts from security agencies in tackling the menace in recent times.

Speaking to our correspondent, an 80-year-old community leader in Isseke, Tobias Ijeh, said, “These miscreants, who hide under the secessionist agitation, have become a nightmare in the South-East. IPOB has not been able to realise their dream of a Biafra nation, but its acclaimed fighters go about destroying the people they are claiming to liberate. We know they are not IPOB members; they are criminals hiding under the guise of freedom fighters. Biafra is still very far in sight, but these acclaimed fighters go about killing their own brothers and sisters at the slightest provocation and our security operatives seem to have been overwhelmed.
“These hoodlums don’t want anyone to take up government job; they don’t want to see any security officer. If you are suspected to be a government official, or they see you in an exotic car, they come after you. They set ablaze security formations, burn palaces, houses and destroy means of livelihoods in the communities, thereby turning the whole place into a ghost town.

“At their will, they perpetually lockdown people at home in the name of sit-at-home. If there’s a ceremony like a funeral, you must take permission from them and pay them a certain amount with drinks before you are allowed. This is what those claiming to agitate for Biafra do to us for no justifiable reasons. They do all these to us when we haven’t got Biafra. My question has always been: what will be the condition of the average Igbo man should Biafra come today? When you speak against their nefarious activities, they come after you. At my age, I must continue to speak against evil without any fear because I have seen it all.”

Also, lending her voice, an octogenarian and Lilu community leader, Mgbeke Onyeama, a retired school teacher, said they have been forced to stay indoors every Monday.

“They have taken our Mondays away from us, people no longer go out to do business on Mondays. Our once peaceful communities have been turned into war zones in the name of agitation. I wonder how these people reason. Are they really expecting to succeed in their dream project while killing their own brothers? You can no longer hold any burial or ceremony without going to take permission from these boys and also pay them heavily to allow you.

“People can no longer go to farm; agriculture is gradually dying in the region. People in the diaspora no longer return home, and anyone who risks coming home do so in disguise. A total reorientation is inevitable because the youths and all the people believing the illegal secessionist agitators have strongly been brainwashed that when it arrives, everybody will be settled with $100,000 each for them to go into trading, or for those whose businesses have failed to revive their businesses. None of them is thinking of production or farming anymore.”

However, when contacted, the IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, denied any involvement of IPOB members in the destruction of property and killings in the communities, insisting that the “criminal elements” are not members of IPOB.

Powerful said, “We have called out the criminals and agent provocateurs heavily funded by some governors and some politicians and businessmen and women. The police and other security agencies are aware of this but they have failed to do the needful.
“Any group operating any camp in the above-mentioned areas and communities are not IPOB/ESN operatives. They are either organised criminal gangs or agent provocateurs working with the government’s double agents. The Federal Government and its fraudulent security agencies know the truth, but chose to blackmail IPOB/ESN.”

When contacted on what the security operatives were doing to combat these criminals, Ikenga insisted that Anambra was safe and the police winning the battle against the unknown gunmen.

“We are winning the battle against the unknown gunmen. Normalcy has returned to communities that used to be deadly zones in the hands of the gunmen. Today, Anambra is safe and peaceful because some police officers have worked hard for it,” the Anambra command spokesman said.