The Association of Ngor Okpala Journalists (ANOJ) has raised urgent concerns over a surge in insecurity in parts of Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, Imo State. Areas around Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport and the Umuowa-Ihitte-Umuhu-Okpala axis along the Owerri–Aba Expressway are reportedly under siege by bandits and suspected terrorists.
According to ANOJ, recent incidents between 1 and 2 December involved attacks on motorists, with victims reportedly abducted or killed. The journalists highlighted the attack on the advance team of the Abia State Governor’s Office en route to Imo Airport as a stark example of the growing menace.
In a statement issued by Chairman Comrade Athan Agbakwuru and Secretary Comrade Henry Amadi, the association alleged that the vast adjoining bushes in these areas have become safe havens for criminals. Decomposed corpses and personal belongings of victims were reportedly discovered during community combing exercises.
The statement cited a series of violent crimes over the past two years, including the killing of a woman in Amala, the murder of a pregnant woman near the airport runway at Umueze Ezemba, and the abduction of a Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) staff earlier this year. Commercial motorcyclists have also been targeted, intensifying fears among residents.
ANOJ warned that the persistent attacks have disrupted commercial, social, and political activities, portraying Ngor Okpala as an unsafe locality for residents and passersby. They stressed that the identities of the criminals remain uncertain, with speculation ranging from armed Fulani herdsmen to Boko Haram or ISWAP operatives.
The journalists urged the Imo State Police, military, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to intensify efforts, alongside community vigilantes and youth groups, to flush out criminals from the area. They also called on traditional rulers, religious, and political leaders to collaborate with security agencies by providing timely intelligence.
ANOJ commended the Imo State Police Command for its recent intervention but insisted that the crackdown must be sustained until perpetrators are apprehended and brought to justice. They stressed the strategic importance of Ngor Okpala as a host to Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport and a link between Abia, Rivers, and Imo States, making immediate action imperative.
