Agwa Community residents in Imo State’s Oguta Local Government Area have vehemently urged President Bola Tinubu, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, and Governor Hope Uzodimma to act quickly to stop the ongoing killings that are allegedly being carried out in their community by suspected herdsmen and bandits.
The call was made by the Agwa Central Union (ACU), led by Barrister Benson Akunya, in a formal position letter presented to the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma. The commissioner had convened a security dialogue with local stakeholders aimed at addressing the region’s rising insecurity.
Speaking on behalf of Barr. Akunya, Comrade Johnbosco Obodo conveyed the community’s concerns, emphasizing the urgent need to bring an end to the violent attacks plaguing Agwa.
“We fear that if swift action is not taken by the authorities to prevent further atrocities by herdsmen, our youths may be compelled to resort to self-defence,” Obodo warned.
“Agwa is bleeding. Once a bastion of peace and resilience, our land has become a valley of death and mourning—drenched in the tears of grieving mothers, the cries of orphaned children, and the silence of innocent lives snatched away by yet another senseless attack.”
He recounted the devastating incident of June 4, 2025, when alleged Fulani herdsmen invaded Agwa, brutally killing innocent residents. Numerous others sustained gunshot wounds, and some were kidnapped during the attack.
“This is not the first of such attacks,” Obodo added. “It follows a disturbing pattern of unprovoked aggression, including a previous incident where a pregnant woman was shot in her own home. None of these atrocities have been addressed or punished.”
The ACU is demanding justice and a compensation package of ₦1,000,000,000,000.00 (one billion naira) for the victims and their families. While acknowledging that no amount of money can replace the lives lost, they believe the financial support would help alleviate the pain and trauma experienced by the bereaved.
They also urged the government to establish a joint security task force to be stationed along the Ejemekwuru–Agwa road. This measure, they said, is necessary to curb the movement of criminal elements and prevent further bloodshed in the region.
“Our people deserve to live without fear,” the statement emphasized. “This document is not just a position paper—it is a plea for justice, a unified outcry from a wounded community that has buried its loved ones without answers and endured this pain for too long.”
In response, Commissioner Aboki Danjuma assured the community that their grievances would be relayed to the appropriate authorities. He encouraged continued collaboration with security agencies, stressing the importance of credible intelligence sharing.
“I urge you, the leaders of Oguta communities, to look within and act accordingly,” Danjuma said.
“Until you begin to expose the bad elements among you, our efforts to restore peace and combat insecurity in Oguta may not yield meaningful results.”
