RESIDENTS of Nsokpo Community in Ogbaku, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, have appealed to Governor Hope Uzodinma to urgently intervene over rising insecurity and the deplorable condition of roads linking the community to neighbouring areas.
The appeal was contained in a statement on Monday, September 21, by the Nsokpo Dynamic Association, an organisation of young professionals from the community.
The association said Nsokpo had experienced repeated cases of kidnapping and armed attacks in recent months, allegedly involving suspected herders and other criminal elements operating in surrounding bushes.
According to the group, the insecurity has affected the livelihood of residents, with farmers becoming afraid to access their farms, traders closing their businesses before dusk, and parents keeping their children indoors from early evening.
The association called for sustained security patrols in the community, including day and night operations, as well as a coordinated combing of the Nwaogwugwu land and bush axis between Ogbaku and Umunoha, and bushes bordering Nsokpo.
It also appealed for government support for community policing and local vigilante groups working with conventional security agencies.
The group said Nsokpo’s location along the route to Owerri, the state capital, made securing the community important to preventing criminal activities from spreading towards the state capital.
The association also raised concerns over the condition of two major roads serving the community, the Nsokpo–Ifakala–Nwaorieubi Road and Nsokpo–Lawa–Ohi Road.
It said the roads had deteriorated significantly, making transportation difficult and expensive, particularly during the rainy season.
According to the association, the poor roads have slowed the movement of agricultural produce, increased transport costs and restricted residents’ access to markets and other commercial activities.
It called for the reconstruction of both roads and the installation of streetlights at dark and high-risk sections to improve safety.
“We are requesting basic security measures for the community,” the association said, expressing confidence that the situation could be addressed through the governor’s intervention and cooperation with security agencies.
The association’s appeal was copied to the Secretary to the Imo State Government, Commissioner of Police, Director of the Department of State Services in the state, Commissioner for Homeland Security and Vigilante Affairs, Garrison Commander of 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructural Development, and Chairman of Mbaitoli Local Government Area.
Its claim comes amid recent reports of kidnapping activity in and around Ogbaku.
On July 22, 2026, operatives of the Imo State Police Command reportedly raided a kidnappers’ hideout in Ogbaku, rescued a kidnapped man and killed two suspected kidnappers. Another suspect was arrested during the operation, according to a report citing the Force Public Relations Officer.
Several other reports also identified Ogbaku among communities in parts of Imo where farmers had deserted their farms amid fears of abduction.
Mustapha Usman is an investigative journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: musman@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M