South-East Government Battles Surge in Attacks as Governors, Monarchs, and Locals Demand Urgent Security Reform

 

A renewed wave of violence has rattled communities across Nigeria’s South-East, stirring fear, displacement, and outrage among residents who now live on the edge of daily uncertainty. Anambra, Abia, Enugu, and Imo states are grappling with a series of deadly attacks and kidnappings, often attributed to criminal gangs and suspected armed herdsmen. The situation has grown so dire that communities are demanding immediate and comprehensive action from state governments and the federal authorities.

Several towns in Anambra State, particularly within Orumba South Council and the capital city, Awka, have faced persistent kidnappings in recent weeks. Even the office of Agunechemba, the local security outfit in Umunze, was not spared. Their facilities were torched, and vehicles burnt during a nighttime attack. This incident, among others, has forced many residents to abandon their homes, relocating to safer territories.

Orumba South, a boundary community with Imo, Abia, and Enugu, now stands as a security flashpoint. Despite the existence of the Agunechemba vigilante network, criminals have intensified their operations across towns such as Isseke, Umunze, Nanka, Ogbunka, and even the state capital, Awka.

The killing of an entire family in Isseke shook the region to its core. Gunmen stormed the home of a community leader accused of sharing intelligence with security forces. In a brutal act, the attackers murdered him, his wife, and two children, leaving the community in deep mourning. Residents now plead for stronger border security presence in Orumba South and Ihiala.

Communities in Enugu State are also reeling from sustained assaults, particularly Eha-Amufu in Isi-Uzo Council. Sharing a border with Benue State, the area has become a magnet for attacks by armed herdsmen. Local accounts reveal that between 2017 and 2022, over 20 farm settlements suffered repeated attacks, leading to numerous deaths and mass displacement.

Just last week, Aguamede, a farming community in Eha-Amufu, faced another massacre. Armed men stormed homes in Ikpakpara village at dawn, slaughtering more than ten residents with machetes. Survivors claimed the attack began without warning, creating panic and leaving deep emotional scars. Only a few days earlier, four others were killed in Mbuji Eha-Amufu under similar circumstances.

Local leaders complain bitterly that security personnel are only deployed after attacks occur and are withdrawn shortly thereafter. They demand a permanent and well-equipped security presence in these areas to prevent further bloodshed.

Taking steps to address the crisis, the Enugu State Government upgraded its Forest Guard outfit into a formal security board. Colonel Dan Didiugwu (retired) was appointed chairman, while DCP Olamitisoji Akinbamilayo (retired) was named commander. The upgrade replaces the former coordinator role, in a bid to boost professionalism, capacity, and field effectiveness.

Meanwhile, Abia State has not been spared. The Umunneochi and Isiukwuato axis has witnessed a troubling resurgence in security breaches. Governor Alex Otti recently reiterated his administration’s zero-tolerance stance on crime following the attack on his Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Chaka Chukwumerije, who narrowly escaped an ambush between Umunneochi and Okigwe.

While the governor acknowledged that Operation Crush previously reduced crime rates in the Umunneochi corridor, he noted a worrying uptick in attacks in recent weeks. A recent raid on a criminals’ camp in Ugwunagbo led to arrests and the recovery of weapons, though a soldier tragically lost his life during the operation.

Governor Otti praised security forces for their bravery and vowed that every inch of Abia soil would remain under lawful control. He promised intensified patrols and expanded operations to root out criminal hideouts.

Adding to the growing chorus for regional solutions, Igwe Herbert Ukuta, the traditional ruler of Igga Ancient Kingdom in Enugu State, has called for a comprehensive South-East security summit. He urged governors to form a united front with joint security task forces and better cross-border collaboration. He stressed that traditional rulers, given their proximity to local populations, should play an integral role in the proposed community policing reforms.

Igwe Ukuta’s proposal emphasized structured intelligence-sharing, the funding and reform of vigilante outfits, and the need for joint forest patrols across states like Anambra, Enugu, Abia, and Imo. According to him, rural access routes and forest tracks must no longer remain unchecked paths for criminal movement.

The situation in Imo State appears especially troubling. Beyond the still-persistent Monday sit-at-home observance, many highways, farms, and towns have turned into zones of fear. The notorious Owerri-Aba highway remains a hotspot for kidnappers and armed herdsmen. Religious leaders have added their voices to the outcry, expressing concern about the government’s inertia.

Catholic Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji, in his Easter message, decried the level of insecurity, warning that the nation appears to be slipping into lawlessness. Anglican Bishop Geoffrey Chukwunenye of Oru Diocese similarly advocated for the establishment of state police to help address the festering insecurity.

In Agwa, located in the Oguta area of Imo, repeated attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen have pushed the community to the brink. In a letter to President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police, the Agwa Central Union demanded immediate action. The June 4 attack, where numerous residents were killed or injured, was only the latest in a series of bloodbaths. According to community spokesperson Johnbosco Obodo, a pregnant woman was shot in her home, and the population is nearing a breaking point.

The community is calling for compensation of one trillion naira to help victims' families recover, though they admit no financial restitution can replace lost lives. More importantly, they are requesting a stationed security task force along Ejemekwuru-Agwa road to block future attacks. CP Aboki Danjuma, while promising to escalate their demands, urged the community to expose internal collaborators and continue providing intelligence to law enforcement.

While most states in the region struggle with varying levels of insecurity, Ebonyi stands out as a relatively safer zone. Prince Etta Uka Ude, Commissioner for Internal Security, credits the synergy between the Neighbourhood Watch, traditional security forces, and local communities. Each local government in the state has a network of 114 trained and equipped Neighbourhood Watch members, while urban centers host nearly 300 personnel.

He emphasized that Governor Francis Nwifuru's commitment to prompt funding, security training, and inter-agency collaboration has yielded real results. The state's model of community policing, driven by intelligence sharing and swift emergency response, appears to be working where other regions continue to falter.

As the cries of victims grow louder and the fear in the South-East deepens, pressure mounts on state and federal governments to move beyond rhetoric and into action. Without urgent, unified efforts, the region risks further descent into chaos.