By Teddy Nwanunobi
The residents of Nsokpo, a community in Ogbaku, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, have issued an urgent appeal to both state and federal governments to address the escalating insecurity and severe road degradation plaguing their region.
The community residents voiced their frustrations over how the crumbling infrastructure has paralysed local economic activities, while unchecked criminal elements continue to threaten lives and property.
They emphasised that the community feels completely abandoned, leaving them vulnerable to daily hardships and safety risks.
The appeal by Nsokpo community was contained in a statement issued by the Nsokpo Dynamic Association (NDA), a body of young professionals from the community, and signed by its President and Secretary-General, Onyejiaka Mark and Chukwudi Ohiri, respectively.
The association alleged that Nsokpo had witnessed repeated kidnappings and armed attacks in recent months, which it attributed to suspected herders and other criminal elements operating in surrounding bushland.
It said the situation had disrupted residents’ daily activities, with farmers allegedly afraid to access their farms, traders closing their businesses before dusk and parents keeping their children indoors early.
The statement read, “Nsokpo has suffered repeated kidnappings and armed attacks in recent months, blamed on suspected herdsmen and criminal elements operating from surrounding bushland.
“Farmers are afraid to work their land, traders are closing shops before dusk, and parents are keeping children indoors long before nightfall.”
The association urged Governor Hope Uzodinma to provide sustained security patrols in the community, including day and night operations, to deter further attacks.
It also called for a coordinated security operation to comb the Nwaogwugwu land and bush axis between Ogbaku and Umunoha, as well as the bush areas bordering Nsokpo.
The group further appealed for government support for community policing initiatives, including resources for local vigilante groups working alongside formal security agencies.
“We are requesting basic security measures for the community,” the association said, expressing confidence that intervention by the state government and security agencies could address the situation.
The association also raised concerns over the condition of the Nsokpo–Ifakala–Nwaorieubi Road and the Nsokpo–Lawa–Ohi Road.
It said the roads had deteriorated to the extent that travelling had become difficult, costly and dangerous, particularly during the rainy season.
According to the association, the poor condition of the roads had slowed the movement of farm produce, increased transportation costs and restricted the community’s access to commercial activities.
It appealed to the government to reconstruct the two roads and install streetlights in dark and high-risk sections to improve security at night.
The association described Nsokpo as strategically located along the route to Owerri, the state capital, and argued that securing the community would help protect the route from criminal activities.
It said timely government intervention would improve the safety and economic activities of residents while restoring access to neighbouring communities and markets.