FOR over four years, many communities in Igbo land were desolate due to activities of criminal elements christened Unknown gunmen who killed, kidnapped and maimed residents and visitors alike. They destroyed properties, rendered many people homeless and reduced the communities to no-go areas. In some cases, they occupied deserted communities, unleashing terror and mayhem from there. Fear and apprehension pervaded the entire land.

However, this Christmas celebration was different. Hope has been restored and life has returned to the communities. Social activities have fully returned to the hitherto deserted communities in Ihiala, Aguata and Orumba areas of Anambra State and once dreaded Orlu and Oguta areas of Imo State. People of these areas returned home in large numbers to enjoy the usual conviviality criminal elements denied them for many years.

The usual meetings where development of communities were deliberated, were seen being held in communities and philanthropists gathered the less privileged and widows to celebrate with them, things they could not do in the past few years due to security crises.

Confirming the gradual return of peace in Ihiala and its neighbouring towns, a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, who is from Ihiala, who pleaded anonymity, said: “Gradually, the area is calming down, but there are still pockets of criminal activities here and there.

“However, people are happy celebrating Christmas and waiting to celebrate the New year. We are happy to be home again after some years of running from the town. In fact, all the towns in Ihiala Local Government Area are celebrating the gradual return of peace in our Local Government. You know what this place was like between January, February and March. We thank our youth for that bold step of initiating the take over of our towns from criminal elements who are mostly strangers working with some hoodlums from the towns.”

Also speaking with SEV, an Onitsha-based businessman, Chief Chikwueloka Ezeh, said that people actually came home in his community in Ihiala unlike what was obtainable in 2022 and 2023 while criminal elements even mounted road blocks in the day time without anybody, including security agents, challenging them.

According to Chief Ezeh: “There were roads in Ihiala that you dared not drive through in 2022, 2023 and 2024, unless you were ready to part with any amount the criminal elements mounting road blocks in the areas asked you to pay.

“You can remember that here in Ihiala and our neighbouring towns, people only came home to bury the dead and leave after burials and you also recall that before those burials, the families would have settled the criminal elements who threatened to disrupt the burials if not settled but recently, before this Christmas, those threats had gradually disappeared and we observed that some families buried their loved ones without disturbance from those criminal elements.

“We must thank our youths for the bold step they took and the Military and Police for sending their men on daily basis to assist the youths to root out the criminals. We are happy to come home once more and expect that the peace will continue.

“No doubt the hitherto deserted communities in Ihiala Local Government Area are coming back home to cerebrate Christmas and New year peacefully without harassment by gunmen who have been terrorizing them. It is a good thing that is happening.”

To show appreciation, the people of Ihiala LGA recently thanked the Nigerian Army for helping them restore peace and security in areas which has led to mass return of fleeing residents in some communities in the council area that were badly affected by insecurity.

In the letter, the LGA Ohanaeze boss and Mbosi town PG, said the council area was hotspot of rampaging unknown gunmen who took over towns like Isseke forcing its traditional ruler, His Royal Highness, Igwe Emma Nnabuife to flee the town.

The letter noted that other communities in Ihiala Council Area that were affected were Mbosi, Azia, Orsumoghu, Lilu and Ubuluisuzo, and even some towns in Imo State that share boundary with Ihiala such as Irsuihiteukwa and Awoidemmili in Orsu LGA, Uburuihejiofor, Uburu, Omuma and Nnempi in Oru LGA.

Part of the letter read: “The people of Mbosi and Ebonesie have watched with admiration the professionalism, discipline and readiness for action consistently demonstrated by the Officers and soldiers of the 302 Artillery Regiment.

“Your troops have stood firm in the face of danger, responding swiftly to distress calls, confronting threats and maintaining calm even in the most challenging situations. Beyond military efficiency, we are particularly grateful for the human and approachable conduct of your soldiers whose respectful interaction with civilians has built trust and renewed confidence among our people.

They have become symbols of assurance, men who not only carry arms but also carry compassion and patriotism in their hearts.”

How we restored security, life — Imo community as they honour brave Police officer

In Imo State, indigenes of Umuokwu Izombe in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, which was thoroughly affected by the security crises, gathered this festive period to celebrate and recounted how they battled to triumph over insecurity that ravaged the community for nearly four years.

The House of Representatives member for Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta, Oru West Federal Constituency, and indigene of the community, Hon. Eugene Dibiagwu, recounted how people were killed and others fled before they rose to fight head-on to save their people.

Dibiagwu disclosed that the bravery of a police officer from the community, Inspector Vincent Chika Okebata, who led the war against the criminals made the whole difference.

The lawmaker praised what he described as the “gallantry efforts of the cop”, who was honoured as Dike Udo at the event christened 2025 Umuokwu Day Celebration put together by the community to mark the return of peace and normal life.

He recalled that a time came when almost everyone fled the community for fear of being killed by the hoodlums that terrorised the area.

Dibiagwu expressed joy that peace has returned to the community and people could now sleep with eyes closed and embark on their normal daily activities.

“A time came, I looked around and I saw only Chika (the policeman) and myself. Every other person that mattered left.

“I sent for him, he came, sat down, and I said: “Chika, you went to Egbema and conquered. Our people are dying, we have to do something now or never.” I said, you must relocate to Izombe immediately.

“I approached the governor and told him that Chika has agreed to go back to Izombe and fight this evil. There and then, we started making arrangements with his unit.

“We took off. The first step was to station at Central School with the money I provided. But he said to me: “Nana, I don’t have security there, the people are betraying me. I am relocating to my house.” He relocated to his house.

“I was coming into this place inside an Armoured Personnel Carrier; my people were outside. My greatest happiness is this moment.

“When I hear people say nonsense about him, people who didn’t know what actually transpired; breadwinners were sent to their untimely graves, passersby were killed for no sin of theirs. But today, Izombe people can sleep with their eyes closed.

“Most importantly, I thank the governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma for taking decisive actions to save our community”, he narrated.

In a welcome address, the President-General of Umuokwu Izombe Development Association (UIDA), Mr. Lucky Dibiagwu, said they singled out Inspector Okebata for recognition because of his outstanding roles in fighting the criminal elements that promoted anarchy and chaos in the community during the reign of terror.

The President general, whose address was presented by the Chairman, Organising Committee of 2025 Umuokwu Day Celebration, Mr. Francis Onyeukwu, declared that the days of sorrow were gone.

“We shall confer on him the title of ‘DIKE UDO’ due to his efforts in restoring peace and security in Umuokwu Izombe today.

“In today’s event, we are introducing Chiefdom Parade, a musical dance display for our people to dance and shock-off pains and for God to fully take over our affairs as days of sorrow are gone and gone forever in our land. Going forward, we christen Umuokwu, LAND OF PEACE and called on everyone to pursue unity and peace in Umuokwu and Izombe”, he stated.

He appealed to Governor Hope Uzodinma to redeem his promise of paying compensation to victims of October 8, 2021 carnage in Umuokwu, Umuorji and Ndioko, as well as other victims between 2021 and 2023 in which more than 150 houses in Umuokwu, Umuorji and Ndioko, were reportedly burnt following issues between security men and village boys.

In a remark, Inspector Chika Okebata expressed gratitude for the honour and pledged to remain committed in consolidating the return of peace to the area. (Vanguard)

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