*Seeks Vigilante Operatives Investigated By; KELVIN OKPARA, Enugu A human rights organization, international Society for Civil Liberties
*Seeks Vigilante Operatives Investigated
By; KELVIN OKPARA, Enugu
A human rights organization, international Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, Intersociety, has raised the alarm over looming Inter-communal war Between Ndikeokwu-Uli in Ihiala Council Area of Anambra State and
Egbuoma-Oguta Community in Imo State, demanding the arrest and investigation of the alleged criminal actions of operatives of the Uli Central Vigilante Group.
The group disclosed that it had last week via a letter, drawn the urgent attention of Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, and Special Adviser to the state Governor on Community Security, Prince Ken Emeakai to the impending danger.
“Their attention was drawn to looming inter-communal violence between the Anambra Community of Uli in Ihiala Local Government Area and the Imo Community of Egbuoma in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.
“Anambra Ndikeokwu-Uli Vigilante group must
be disbanded and stopped From provoking Inter-Communal war between Their Community and that of Imo State.
In it’s letter to the Anambra CP and state government which was made available to newsmen Tuesday, intersociety noted that the Ndikeokwu-Uli Vigilante group has been allegedly engaging in various criminal activities, including barbaric mass killing of natives of the Imo Community.
It therefore, urged government and relevant security authorities to rise up to their responsibities and unmasking those perpetrating the unholy act in the locality.
“The killer-group’s alleged Cross-boundary abductions, Killings, disappearances, Extortions, looting and Burning down of houses Using Eastern Security network “ESN”, “unknown Gunmen” and Indigenous people of Biafra “IPOB” as a Pretext must be unmasked”.
“Intersociety had in a facts-laden petition, dated Friday, July 25, 2025, called on the two recipients to order for arrest of the leaders and other operatives of the Uli Central Vigilante group, operating from Ndikeokwu Village of Uli community and have them thoroughly investigated and prosecuted for mass murder and other violent criminal activities.
“The letter further called for immediate disbandment of the killer-outfit and sealing of their camps and release of those held including Citizen Kosarachi Ohajuba, abducted since June 20, 2025; with a ransom (“bail fee”) tag of N2m placed on his head.
Jointly singed by
Head of Intersociety and lead Researcher, Emeka Umeagbalasi, a Criminologist, Barrister
Chinwe Umeche, a human Rights Lawyer/Head, Democracy and Good Governance, Barr.
Chidinma Udegbunam, who is Head, Campaign and Publicity, Barr. Obianuju Joy Igboeli, Head, Department of Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, the group harped on the need for urgent intervention.
It disclosed that “Intersociety’s letter was also copied to the Executive Governor of Anambra State. It was made clear that the urgency of our letter was sequel to the fact that members of the victim-community (Egbuoma Autonomous Community in Oguta, Imo State) are furiously running out of patience, having endured and lived with such unprovoked attacks and humiliations since 2022”.
It was Ttled: “Calling For Thorough Investigation, Arrest, And Prosecution Of Leaders and other Operatives of “The Uli Central Vigilante Group” And Disbandment of
the Killer-
Outfit for Incessantly Crossing boundaries and Invading Egbuoma Community In Oguta (Imo State) and Killing more than Ten indigenes of the Community Since 2022.
The group equally accused the Vigilante operatives of Perpetrating other Atrocious Conducts such as Indiscriminate arrests and Unlawful detentions, Enforced disappearances, Acts of torture and looting, burning homes and other Properties.
“The petition was also attached with a catalogue of heinous activities of the murderous security outfit including names of ten slain indigenes of the victim-Community in Oguta in faraway Imo State of Nigeria.
On the recent attack and massacre of about 28 innocent residence of
Umualaoma, Arondizouogu (Ndi-Ejezie and Ndi-Akunwanta-Uno) of Imo state, by yet to be arrested gunmen, the group accused
Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen fleeing Anambra forests of Perpetrating the heinous crime.
It stated that “Strong facts have emerged from our findings showing that the Thursday night massacre of about 28 (other sources say, “22”) rural Christians in Umualaoma and Arondizuogu Villages of Ndi-Ejezie and Ndi-Akunwanta-Uno in Ideato North part of Imo State was perpetrated by Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen fleeing Anambra forests”
This followed “the Tuesday and the Wednesday Night (July 22-23, 2025) community manhunts by assembled vigilantes and youths from some neighboring Anambra communities including Umunze and Umuchu in Orumba South and Aguata Local Government Areas”
“The manhunts and intelligence and early warning alerts had reportedly kept the villagers inside their invaded and threatened forests till midnight of 12am, forcing the Jihadists to flee in their large numbers the neighboring Imo forests, from where they went on rampage and wreaked havoc in the three community-villages.
It said “The community manhunts also followed a recent abduction of two persons or indigenes of one of the Communities; forcing the Umunze youths and vigilantes to mobilize and storm their major forests, leading to the arrest of an Igbo informant working with them and forcing the jihadist herders to retreat and flee in their large numbers.
“The armed herders panicked and retreated into the three victim-villages through the Joint Forest Farm Settlement at Ndi-Ikpa Village in Umunze, close to Permanent Site of the Federal College of Technical at Umunze.
” Said the organization :”The topographic location of the Joint River (Iyi-Akwu and Uchu Rivers) Farmland Forest Settlement shows that there are massive inter-communal Forests joining Ndi-Ikpa/Iyiakwu (Umunze),Ibughubu/Uchu (Umuchu) and Ohia-Uchu/Umualaoma, Ndi-Ejezie and Ndi-Akunwanta-Uno in Arondizuogu.
“Three prominent indigenes of Umunze, Umuchu and Umualaoma, who spoke to the Intersociety, the information obtained was shared among concerned leaders of the three communities; out of which, Communities of Umunze and Umuchu in Anambra State proactively acted including reactivation of their early warning systems.
“Further reported was the fact that strange late night presence and movements of the Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen between Imo and Anambra forests in the area were reported weeks ago local palm wine tappers, farmers and others.
“The mass murder had taken place between 8pm and 9.20pm in the night of Thursday, July 24, 2025 at Nkwo-Umualaoma Square where as much as 12 persons were shot dead including those playing Draught games and others relaxing at different food and liquor restaurants.
“Not done, the jihadist Fulani assailants who reportedly dressed in military camouflage and operated on Motorcycles, etc., reportedly moved to the neighboring Ndi-Ejezie Village where they killed 14 persons and shot their way through and landed at another neighboring Village of Ndi-Akunwanta-Uno where they shot and killed four more defenseless Christian natives before fleeing into the Okigwe and adjoining forests from where they escaped unchallenged and uncaught.
“According to analysis made from some recorded voice notes sent by some eyewitnesses, some names of those killed at Umualaoma Village were given as: Ms. Chiamaka Omego, a tailor at the Village’s Nkwo Market Square, Ifeanyi (Udoakpuenyi), a popular tall local and owner of one of the popular entertainment masquerades in the Village, Ms.
“Sabina, an owner of local Chemist store at the Village Square, Nonso Mbaoma, a local footballer and a mourner who returned for his mother’s funeral remembrance, scheduled for Sunday, July 27, 2025.
” Obinna and his wife, shot and killed in front of their restaurant at the Village Market Square and a group of others numbering not less than six, shot and killed at other nearby liquor and food restaurants.
It also used the petition to call on governor Soludo of Anambra state, the Benue and Taraba Commissioners of police CPs to securely rescue abducted six Anambra-born Lawyers, Ernest Okafor, Ogbuka Fabian, Nwamma Philip, Okechukwu Obadiegwu, Obalem Emmanuel, and Obiorah David.
The Nigerian Law school students were travelling from Onitsha, Anambra state to Yola Adamawa state when they were abducted by unknown armed men .
“We are strongly demanding for their immediate and unconditional release” the group stated.
“The Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo is specifically called upon to rise to the occasion by joining forces with the Anambra State Commissioner of Police and those of Benue and Taraba States as well as his Brother-Governors of the two states and other relevant agencies and authorities to ensure their immediate and unconditional release.
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