|By Adejumo Adekunle
…Calls for grassroots security overhaul, urges Imo leaders to act
Senator Athan Nneji Achonu, a former lawmaker and Labour Party governorship candidate in the 2023 Imo State election, has condemned the killing of at least seven persons during an armed attack on three communities in Ideato North Local Government Area on Thursday, July 25.
Describing the incident as “barbaric and deeply disturbing,” Senator Achonu urged the Nigeria Police Force to go beyond routine responses and conduct a full investigation into the attack. He insisted that the perpetrators must be unmasked and justice delivered without delay.
“These repeated killings are unacceptable,” he said in a statement issued on Saturday, July 26. “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 expressed concern over the rising trend of violence against security operatives, noting recent attacks on police personnel in parts of the Okigwe Zone. He described the assault on law enforcement as a “direct affront to law and order.”
“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 stated.
Achonu called on the Imo State Government and local council authorities—now beneficiaries of direct federal allocations—to rise to their constitutional duty of safeguarding lives and property.
“With the funding now available to them, they have no excuse not to prioritize security. They must work closely with community leaders and the Police to establish and support vigilante networks that are well-trained, properly supervised, and responsive,” he said.
The Senator questioned how armed attackers could move freely across multiple communities, strike Ideato North, and escape without resistance. He described the situation as evidence of a collapsed grassroots security system.
“This must be urgently addressed. Criminals are infiltrating rural areas unchecked, and if we continue with this level of inaction, we’re inviting more bloodshed. What we’re seeing is the result of years of neglect and lack of political will,” he warned.
Achonu has been a vocal advocate for security reform in the South-East. He has previously linked the region’s insecurity to rising poverty, youth unemployment, and decades of governmental failure. In an earlier intervention, he personally repaired armored personnel carriers and security vehicles to support the Police, though his efforts were reportedly sidelined.
Reaffirming his call for community-led security initiatives, Achonu stressed the need to rebuild trust between locals and security agencies. “Only through collaboration, proper funding, and serious commitment can we prevent further bloodshed,” he said.
He extended condolences to the families of those killed in the Ideato North attack and pledged to continue pushing for meaningful security reforms that protect all communities across Imo State and the wider South-East.
