Imo insecurity worsens, Owerri Zone latest flashpoint

By Ori Martins

The state of insecurity which has been ravaging Imo in the past three years has grown worse, with the hitherto peaceful Owerri Zone as latest flashpoint.

In the last three years, the Orlu and Okigwe zones have been overtaken by acute insecurity which have recorded at least, one thousand deaths even as properties worth hundreds of millions destroyed.

In the last three months, killings, kidnaping, and in some cases, arson are being witnessed in some local councils that made up Owerri Zone, the only one that escaped attacks of the gunmen.

Within the last 14 days, Ngor Okpala, the second biggest LGA after Mbaitoli, had witnessed two fatal gunmen attacks. The first was in the last week of March when gunmen attacked civil defence corps who were on official duty along the ever boisterous Orishueze – Eche Road, killing three instantly while two others were dangerously wounded.

Just last week, at the Okpala area of the council, five policemen who had entered a canteen along the Owerri – Aba Express Road, were roundly killed by gunmen who were said to have trailed the officers. Sadly, the husband and wife who were the owners of the canteen were never spared by the executioners – they were killed alongside the security men who had come to patronize them.

Speaking, a community leader in Ngor Okpala, Okenze Pat Okereke, noted that the enclave have been peaceful until recently. “I can tell you that Ngor Okpala has been a peaceful area all along. I have never travelled outside here since I was born and I am 63 years old, so I should know better.

“The two separate killings in Ngor Okpala this period are really disturbing because those behind this nefarious activities don’t mean well for us as a people”.

Okereke therefore called on the security agencies to fish out those behind the killings and ensure they are brought to book.

Aboh Mbaise LGA and Ngor Okpala are in the same federal constituency. Thus, attention shifted to the former after the brutal killings in the latter. First, one afternoon at Eke Nguru, not up to two weeks ago, two unidentified bodies that were hacked down by gunmen. It was shocking and disturbing to the inhabitants of the area who called on the police to fish out those behind such a condemnable act and deal with them accordingly.

The entire Umuhu autonomous community in Okwuato, Aboh Mbaise LGA was thrown into confusion following the realization that, a young man simply known as Vitus, has been kidnapped by gunmen. Vitus is certainly the biggest trader at the popular Afor Umuhu Market as his wine and bar shop which he had been working assiduously and very hard to build and grow in about 25 years is now a rewarding and lucrative business venture.

Condemning Vitus’ abduction, a businessman and grassroots politician, Chief Osondu Nwachukwu, regretted the incident which he described as notorious and tasked on security agencies to restore peace and order by ensuring the freedom of Vitus.

According to him, “What happened at Afor Umuhu is both unfortunate and notorious. Vitus has been one of the biggest investors in our local economy. He has been working hard, building his businesses as well as inspiring younger ones who are already toeing his progressive line in business development.

“I most sincerely call on the security agencies to urgently dig into this matter for the purposes of getting to the root of this wicked act, arresting the abductors and bringing them to justice as well as ensuring the freedom of Vitus himself”.

In Owerri metropolis, it has become a norm seeing one lifeless or headless body or the other dumped at various corners of the city, recently. For instance, about a week ago, three young men were caught with decapitated human skulls at the equally collapsed First Inland Avenue, Owerri.

At Ishiuzor in Egbu, Owerri North Local Government Area, gunmen have been ransacking and ravaging the town in about one month now, leading to an increased neighborhood security services by both the indigenes and residents of the affected areas.

Troubled by the trending insecurity activities in Imo, the state police command, confirming the above incidents, said it was on top of the situation even as it had improved on its security strategies, including surveillance and patrol networks.