Massive security and intelligence failures have been blamed for the invasion by

a large numbers of gunmen of two communities in Arondizuogu, Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State in the early hours of Wednesday, killing no fewer than seven people and injuring several others.

The rights group has also called on the federal and Imo state governments to take steps to secure the lives of citizens in most local communities that have become ungoverned spaces especially in parts of Orlu and Okigwe Senatorial zones of Imo states. The Rights group noted that residents of communities far from Owerri and other urban centres of Imo state lack the presence of formidable security forces to stave off the incessant attacks targeting the rural populace just as the Rights group carpeted the security forces for always coming to the affected communities several hours after the attackers had unleashed bloodletting violence and left.

HURIWA listed the affected communities—Ndi-Ejezie, Umualaoma, and Ndiakuwata Uno— which were left in shock, with disturbing viral videos showing charred bodies lying on the floors of affected homes, as terrified residents mourned the victims.

The media reports that the attackers had not been apprehended, but the police have blamed the attack on suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, described the attack as “barbaric, inhumane, and totally unacceptable.”

In a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, ASP Henry Okoye, the CP condemned the assault and assured the public that tactical and intelligence teams had been deployed to apprehend those behind the violence.

“The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma, has strongly condemned the gruesome attack carried out by gunmen suspected to be members of the proscribed IPOB/ESN in the early hours of today, 25th July 2025,” the statement read.

“The senseless assault claimed the lives of over seven persons and left several others critically injured. The CP assured the public that the Command has deployed adequate operational and intelligence assets to track down and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Danjuma reportedly led a tactical unit on an operation to comb the affected areas, affirming that the situation had been brought under control and that proactive measures had been taken to prevent further attacks.

The command called on residents with useful information to aid the ongoing investigation and report through its emergency lines: 08034773600 or 08103341610. All reports will be treated with strict confidentiality.

HURIWA however noted that across boards, the heads of security agencies in Imo state have betrayed the law-abiding Nigerians in Imo state by not acting proactively to prevent and stop these gruesome murders even as the Rights group wondered how the police couldn't prevent the attacks and even without effecting any arrests, has already blamed the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

"It is totally illogical that each time citizens are slaughtered in Imo state, the first statement from the police is to heap the blame on the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). If the police already has the prior knowledge that members of IPOB were planning to unleash bloodletting violence on the two communities in Arondizuogu, Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State, how come that the police allowed the attack to happen? If the police claims that it has no knowledge of the attack in Arondizuogu, how come that it has already known the attackers even when no single arrest has been made? Does the police in Imo state engage in 'voodoo' policing style or how does one describe what has played out in Imo State? It is time for the security heads to be compelled to be accountable and there have to be consequences for the dereliction of duties manifested by the heads of security agencies in Imo state and other states that have witnessed attacks by terrorists and bandits.”

HURIWA also condemned the security forces for reportedly shooting indiscriminately at villagers in some communities in Mbano in Imo state after some gunmen also reportedly attacked a checkpoint mounted by the joint security services. The most lawful methodology of tackling these attacks against the citizens or even against the operatives of the security agencies is not for the security agents to shoot indiscriminately at citizens and make blind or mass arrests of Igbo youths, but the security agents need to deploy sufficient investigative acumen and go after the real culprits so as to bring them to justice. We condemn the wanton attacks on citizens and we very rightly condemned the unprovoked attacks on the security operatives by the yet to be arrested and identified attackers.

Besides, HURIWA has condemned the killing of 14 natives of Bokkos in Plateau State by some yet to be identified gunmen in an ambush Thursday as they returned home from a weekly market.

The gunmen according to media reports at the disposal of HURIWA reportedly opened fire Thursday evening on vehicles returning from the market in Bokkos town, residents said, near a village called Mangor.

“Some armed men ambushed them, they fired gunshots indiscriminately,” Moses Maren, a local youth leader, told AFP Thursday.

State Red Cross secretary Nurudeen Hussaini Magaji confirmed the toll Friday morning.

“Amongst the dead were males, females and children,” he said.

The Bokkos area is known as a major hub for potato farming in Nigeria.

The town’s Monday and Thursday markets host traders from as far away as Chad, Benin, Niger and Cameroon.

Insecurity is a major factor in food inflation in Nigeria.

HURIWA decries the persistent inaction of the federal government which controls security forces across the Country to fix the failed intelligence and security architectures that give way for these series of violent attacks in many States and most especially the recent bloodletting in Imo and Plateau states. We call on governments at both the centre and these affected states, to implement proper intelligence guided proactive mechanisms to secure their citizens and stop the incessant attacks by armed gangs and terrorists.