Senator Athan Nneji Achonu, former lawmaker and Labour Party Governorship candidate in the 2023 Imo State Election, has condemned in the strongest terms the deadly attack on three communities in Ideato North Local Government Area on Thursday 25th July, where at least seven people were killed by armed assailants.
He described the incident as “barbaric and deeply disturbing,” calling on the Nigeria Police to go beyond routine responses and carry out a thorough investigation to uncover the root causes and expose the perpetrators.
“These repeated killings are unacceptable,” Senator Achonu said in a statement on Saturday, 26 July.
“The Police must not only respond but must uncover the perpetrators, bring them to justice, and restore the confidence of our people in the security architecture. We cannot allow our communities to be reduced to theatres of fear and bloodshed.”
The Senator also commiserated with the Nigeria Police Force over recent attacks on their personnel in parts of Okigwe Zone, describing the targeting of security operatives as “a direct affront to law and order,” he added.
“Our police officers are already overstretched and under-resourced. The attack on them is not only tragic but a dangerous escalation that must be swiftly addressed.”
He further challenged the Imo State Government and local government authorities (now receiving direct allocations from the Federal Government) - to take their constitutional responsibility for local security seriously.
“It is time for our local governments to rise to the challenge. With the funding now available to them, they have no excuse not to prioritize the protection of lives and property. They must work closely with community leaders and the Police to set up and strengthen vigilante networks that are trained, supervised, and responsive,” he stated.
Senator Achonu also questioned how armed criminals could move through several communities, reach Ideato North to unleash such mayhem, and still escape without any form of resistance or interception. “That speaks volumes about the collapse of grassroots security coordination. This must be urgently addressed,” he noted.
Expressing deep concern over the growing infiltration of criminal elements into rural areas, the Senator warned that government inaction at the state and grassroots levels could embolden further attacks. “Before our very eyes, villages are being overrun because there is no functional local security infrastructure in place. This is the result of years of neglect and lack of political will. The time to act is now,” he said.
Senator Achonu has been consistent in advocating for improved security in the South-East. He has previously pointed to factors such as youth unemployment, poverty, and years of governmental neglect as drivers of the insecurity ravaging the region. Notably, he personally rehabilitated armored personnel carriers and other security equipment to support the police, although those efforts were reportedly sidelined by the authorities.
Reiterating his belief in community-led security partnerships, he said, “We must rebuild trust between communities and security agencies. Only through collaboration, proper funding, and serious commitment can we prevent further bloodshed.”
He extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for security reforms and protection for all communities in Imo State and the wider South-East region.
