The Association of Ngor Okpala Journalists (ANOJ) has raised serious concerns regarding the recent escalation of insecurity within parts of the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State. This increase is particularly notable around the Sam Mbakwe airport, specifically along the Umuowa-Ihitte-Umuhu-Okpala axis of the Owerri-Aba Expressway.
The Association stated that both verified and unverified recent reports persistently suggest that these aforementioned areas have been seized and are currently under the domination of bandits and terrorists.
It confirmed that between Monday, December 1st, and Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025, several attacks on unsuspecting motorists were reported, allegedly resulting in passengers being abducted and killed by suspected bandits or terrorists.
ANOJ highlighted that the attack on the Advance Team from the Abia State Governor’s Office, which was en route to the Imo Airport, is one incident too many and serves as clear evidence of the alarming threat posed by these terrorist activities.
In a joint statement released on Sunday by Chairman, Comrade Athan Agbakwuru, and Secretary, Comrade Henry Amadi, the Association alleged that it possesses reliable information indicating that the surrounding large bushes in these regions have become the hideouts and safe havens for these desperate criminals.
They further revealed that during separate, periodic combing operations conducted by the Ihitte Okwe, Umuowa, and Umuhu communities, multiple decomposing bodies and personal effects belonging to attack victims were discovered in the bushes.
A section of the statement read: “It is officially documented that over the past two years or more, Ngor Okpala has emerged as a high-risk area for insecurity.”
Specific examples cited include: “A woman was killed on her farm in Amala, another pregnant woman was brutally murdered near the Airport Runway at Umueze Ezemba, a FAAN staff member and his relative were kidnapped around June this year, and a commercial motorcyclist was attacked, killed, and his bike stolen along Umuohiagu-Umuowa Road. The documented cases continue to mount.”
The Association stressed that “These recurring instances of violent crime continue to pose a severe threat to commercial, economic, social, and political life in our region.” They added that this troubling situation has “unfavorably characterized our peaceful locality as a dangerous place for innocent residents and travelers, but a refuge for bandits and terrorists.”
The identity of the perpetrators—whether they are local individuals, armed Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram, or ISWAP terrorists—remains unconfirmed.
The statement pointed out the troubling presence of a military checkpoint at Umuowa, the Airport Junction, located only a short distance from where bandits are reportedly operating freely and unrestrained.
“Most concerning is the effortless manner with which they carry out their operations and the lack of proactive or responsible action taken to prevent any attack or apprehend the culprits during or after these events,” the statement noted.
ANOJ strongly urged the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and his team, along with the military in Ngor Okpala, to take immediate action to locate and expel the criminals without delay. They called upon the Imo State Police Command, Military, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to collaborate with local vigilante groups and youth groups to clear the bushes of unwanted inhabitants.
The Association emphasized that traditional rulers, religious and political leaders, and all residents of Ngor Okpala must remain vigilant and prepared to provide security agencies with accurate information to help address the root cause of the menace.
Given Ngor Okpala’s strategically important location as the host of the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport (SMICA) and a vital connection point between Imo, Abia, and Rivers States, the Association asserted that “immediate and urgent action against the rising tide of banditry in the area is absolutely essential.”
The statement concluded: “We have acknowledged the intervention by the Imo State Police Command last weekend and commend it, but we insist that the authorities must sustain the crackdown until the perpetrators are arrested and made to face the full consequence of the law.”
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