The escalating state of insecurity facing South East states of Nigeria, especially Imo and Anambra has continued to increase to unprecedented levels with the authorities in the affected states practically watching helplessly.
On Sunday a number of unspecified unknown gunmen attacked and set ablaze the country home of Commissioner for Justice and the Attorney General of Imo State, Cyprian Akaolisa. It was also gathered that his father’s house in Obibi, Awo-Idemili, in Orsu Council Area of the state was also set ablaze by the invading arsonists.
This latest attack is coming months after armed hoodlums burnt a part of the commissioner’s residence in 2021. The Commissioner confirmed the attack on his house and that of his father in a statement late Sunday evening. He accused people from the South East zone of being responsible for the arson of his house and that of his father.
“The Igbos are hardworking people who through their years of toils put up structures and leave developmental strides in their communities of Origin, maka “akụ ruo ụlọ, a mara onye nwe ya. Through my many years of struggle, I have managed to put a block on another to build a befitting house for my family. My aged father also has a house he built through his sweats.
“Today, both buildings are in rubbles and ashes – our fellow Igbos burnt them. Firstly, last year, these arsonists burnt my country home in Obibi, Awo-Idemili, Orsu LGA of Imo State for no just cause. This year again, they returned and this time, they perfected the complete burning of even the blocks/bricks.
“And last night, to my utter consternation, they leveled my father’s house. This is a house my father built by himself – the life-toil of an aged man. And I dare ask, where is the Igbo spirit? This is a direct affront to the akụ ruo ụlọ spirit. meaning (wealth gets home), Who will invest in Ala Igbo nay Orsu LGA today under this type of atmosphere he asked.
“The above are acts of arson ongoing in my LGA of Orsu. The complete burning of our LGA Secretariat, the house of my colleague – Chief Prince Ford Ozumba, the Hon Commissioner, Imo State Ministry of Labour, Employment and Productivity, the house of Hon. Ekene Nnodumele, the member representing Orsu State Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly.
“There are also houses of other political leaders which have been razed in my area so far. Other ungodly acts are the sacking and carting away of all the Police presence & armories in Orsu LGA, the kidnapping and killing of well-to-do individuals and security operatives. This attendant scare has become a daily phenomenon in my Local Government Area” he stated. Today, these gunmen (Codenamed Ụmụ Ọma, meaning (good children) under the guise of freedom fighters) have continued to demand huge sums of money from mourning families who wish to bury their loved ones and the likes.
“It is now strictly business! These gunmen have almost made a god of themselves, killing and cannibalizing at will, in my area but believe me, they will not succeed with our voices up and collaborative efforts. Where is the Igbo spirit, ụmụnne m? (My brothers) It is unfortunate that the majority of those who foment these troubles are not indigenous to Orsu but have garnered collaborators and enablers among the locals either through fear, persuasion, financial inducements and made to swear to devilish oaths of secrecy.
“It is time to synergize and put an end to the siege in Orsu LGA and liberate our people who are worse hit by the economic downturn occasioned by the ravaging insecurity. For the enablers and cheerers, It is time for the needed retrospect, soul-searching to interrogate the process so far by weighing the gains and losses.” the Commissioner declared.
