•Demand declaration of emergency
The once-thriving schools in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State now stand as haunting monuments to the devastating impact of banditry.
In almost half of the local government area, schools, particularly public primary and secondary schools, have been vandalized, their structures reduced to dilapidated shells that seem to whisper tales of despair.
The bandits, who have taken control of significant parts of Okigwe, have left no stone unturned in their bid for total destruction of public facilities. Among the schools affected are Umulolo Central School, Umulolo Girls Secondary School, Umulolo Boys Secondary School, Agbobu/Ndizuogu Community Primary School, Agbogu Central School, Agbogu Community Secondary School, Umuowa-Ibu Technical School, Umuowa-Ibu Primary School and schools in Aku community.
The aforementioned schools, once filled with pupils, now stand in ruins. Classrooms which once buzzed with the chatter of eager students now lie in ruins, their roofs torn apart, windows, walls shattered, doors ripped off and iron doors and protectors pilfered. Classrooms are abandoned while blackboards have gathered dust.
Worse still, most of the children in the affected communities have either dropped out of school completely or are scattered and left to struggle in faraway schools where their parents could manage to send them to.?????
The situation has led to widespread disruption of education, with many students forced to abandon their studies due to fear of attacks.
A generation lost to fear
A resident expressed concern that the bandits’ activities have instilled deep-seated fear in parents, prompting them to withdraw their children from school. This has resulted in significant disruption of the children’s education and future prospects.
He said: “Fear has become a constant companion as sounds of laughter and learning have been replaced by the silence of abandoned classrooms taken over by bushes.
“It’s heartbreaking to see our schools in such devastating conditions.”
A retired teacher, who preferred anonymity due for security reasons, said the children are the innocent victims of senseless acts of violence. “Our children are forced to abandon their education due to people in army uniforms,” he said.
The parent noted that it was difficult to distinguish between Nigerian soldiers and bandits who are often dressed in military uniforms.
According to him, insecurity has created an environment where parents prioritise their children’s safety over their education, leading to a worrying trend of children missing out on their right to learn.
Another resident, who gave his name simply as Boss, said there were no functional government-owned schools in Okigwe as the structures of the schools have been damaged beyond repairs.
Boss said: “I’ve witnessed firsthand the devastation in Okigwe. The truth is all the six communities mentioned have no functional government schools. Agbogu’s primary and secondary schools are in a shambles, with roofs removed or damaged beyond repairs.
This destruction, which occurred in 2022 due to rumours of military camps, has left a lasting impact. Now, parents are forced to send their children to private schools mostly outside Okigwe with exorbitant fees.
Healthcare in jeopardy
The health sector in Okigwe is also facing an unprecedented crisis. It was gathered that the two health centres at Agbogu, built with federal funds, and the one built by Senator Athan Achonu in 2021, have all been vandalized.
A medical practitioner at the General Hospital Okigwe noted that health centres, once beacons of hope for the communities in the senatorial zone, are now barely functional due to bandits’ activities.
This, he said, has resulted in significant decline in healthcare services, putting the lives of residents at risk.
He noted that the situation is dire, with “everything totally down.”
“If this persists, Okigwe will be plagued by high illiteracy rate and poor healthcare,” he said.
A visit to health centres at Umulolo, Arondizuogu, Agbogu, Aku, Umuowa-Ibu, Ihube and Ezinachi revealed a devastating scene: facilities that once brought hope to mothers, children and the elderly are now non-functional. These health centres, which were once vital to the well-being of the communities, have been ravaged, leaving a gaping hole in the healthcare system in the zone.
In fact, reports indicate that these areas have been severely affected, with children missing out on immunization, pregnant women lacking access to antenatal care, and the sick having nowhere to turn. The health centres in these communities are reportedly looted, vandalized or abandoned.
Sources said in the last three to four years, children in these communities have not been immunised. A concerned mother, Mrs. Nneoma, said “pregnant women have no safe place for antenatal care in Okigwe while the sick have nowhere to turn.”
“Residents are living in fear, and the lack of access to medical care is alarming. While the bandits have special nurses for their needs, residents are forced to rely on God’s grace.
“Some seek treatment in Okigwe town or at the Amaoru health centre, but many aren’t so fortunate,” she said.
Calls for action
Residents and leaders are urging the government to take decisive action to address the insecurity that has led to the killings.
Boss said: “I liken Okigwe to a ghost town, where businesses have collapsed, and people have fled.
“Landlords are struggling to make ends meet as tenants abandon their homes.
Our representatives seem indifferent to our plight, prioritizing their own interests.
He noted that Okigwe Zone has a considerable number of leaders, including a sitting Senator for Imo North, two members of the House of Representatives, the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly from Ihitte Uboma, five other assembly members, six local government chairmen, and hundreds of councilors.
Despite holding significant positions entrusted with moral and political responsibility to represent the people, many have remained silent in the face of escalating insecurity. This collective silence has been likened to “the silence of the lambs,” sparking widespread criticism and concern among residents.
He however commended leaders like Senators Athan Achonu and Samuel Anyanwu who refused to remain silent or to be intimidated in the face of the destruction and killings in Okigwe. “One notable exception is Senator Athan Nneji Achonu, also known as the “One-Arm General,” who has been vocal about the insecurity plaguing Okigwe zone. He has called for urgent action to address the crisis and has been critical of the government’s handling of the situation.”
He pleaded that insecurity issues be addressed in the both Okigwe and Orlu, adding: “Gentle De Yahoo’s influence still looms large, and until the government takes decisive action, the situation will remain volatile.”
He called on the government to declare a state of emergency in Okigwe.
“I demand a state of emergency be declared in Okigwe. The government must equip and empower local vigilantes to restore peace. Until then, developmental projects will remain a distant dream,” he said.
Igbo group condemns killings, dilapidated schools, health centres in Okigwe
Ogbako Ndígbo Nile Worldwide, a prominent Igbo organisation, expressed deep concern over the security situation in Okigwe, where government forces have failed to restore peace.
The organisation’s President General, Amb. Dr. Akpelu Azunna, called for a community-driven intelligence and security approach to address the crisis.
The organisation noted that the Imo State Government, in partnership with federal security agencies, must adopt a targeted, precise and professional approach to security, avoiding indiscriminate force that harms innocent residents.
Residents, it said, must also actively collaborate with authorities to provide credible intelligence and information to identify and isolate criminal elements.
According to the organisation, the restoration of peace in Okigwe is essential to boost local economic activities, attract investment and ensure that infrastructure projects are not abandoned due to insecurity.
Education and healthcare are the bedrock of a people’s development, and all stakeholders must prioritise making schools and health centres functional again.
The organisation called on the Imo State Government to balance firmness with fairness, and on the people of Okigwe to stand united against criminality.
“Religious leaders, traditional rulers, youth leaders and women’s groups are also urged to work together towards community reconciliation, peace-building, and moral reorientation.
“Peace is the foundation for prosperity and development,” the organisation reiterated, urging the government and residents to work together to restore peace and rebuild the affected areas.
Also, the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Congress, Comrade Igboyaka O. Igboyaka, expressed deep concern over the current state of affairs in the country, particularly in the Southeast region, describing it as worrisome.
According to him, individuals agitating for Biafra in the Southeast are merely a gang of criminals exploiting the cause to perpetuate crimes.
“We’ve asked the Federal Government to release Nnamdi Kanu because most of these criminals are using the Biafra liberation narrative to commit crimes,” Comrade Igboyaka stated.
In his contribution, the Coalition of Southeast Youth Leaders (COSEYL) also expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security situation in Okigwe, where schools and health centres have become non-functional due to banditry.
“We are deeply alarmed and saddened by this unacceptable situation, which has left residents at the mercy of fear, disease, and ignorance,” COSEYL President General, Comrade Goodluck Ibem, said.
The organisation demanded immediate intervention from the Imo State Government and federal authorities to restore normalcy in Okigwe.
COSEYL also called for the deployment of well-trained security personnel, reactivation of abandoned schools and health centres, and community-based intelligence partnerships to identify and flush out criminal elements.
Additionally, COSEYL urged the government to invest in youth empowerment programmes to prevent young people from being lured into criminality.
“Enough is enough. Okigwe deserves to live in peace, not fear,” Comrade Ibem emphasised.
The organisation appealed to the media, civil society, and international partners to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Okigwe.
As the situation in Okigwe continues to deteriorate, stakeholders have called for urgent step to address the root causes of these woes as well as collaborative efforts to develop strategies to protect these vital institutions and ensure the well-being of the people.
