Following wanton killings and abductions of innocent residents in the South-East, some prominent businessmen in the region have begun moves to fight against hoodlums who have made life unbearable for residents and investors.
Findings by Saturday PUNCH showed that billions of naira had been raised by the groups, including those from Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State and its neighbouring Ihiala council area of Anambra State.
The businessmen, it was gathered, were funding various resistance groups in the form of vigilantes to tackle the rampant killings by hoodlums terrorising Anambra, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, and Enugu states.
Also, in rural areas across the region, our correspondents learnt that wealthy businessmen were secretly funding militias to counter the insurgency in the South-East.
“We started with one town. From there, we started fighting IPOB. We also got the military involved. We assist the military in providing AGO (diesel) and PMS (petrol). We also buy some food and service the vehicles. We have over 18 vehicles and have arranged our vigilantes,” Okapaku stated.
He noted that the group had been active for four years, with 2025 marking its fifth year of operations.
Vigilance groups in Ehime Mbano
Also, businessmen in Ehime Mbano LGA of Imo State said they took it upon themselves to fund small vigilance groups to improve security in the area.
One of the vigilance groups in the area, funded by local merchants, is the Nsu Security Vigilance Group.
A community leader in the area, Chief Kelechi Anowi, told Saturday PUNCH that the vigilantes often escorted wealthy individuals to burials and other ceremonies to prevent attacks by criminals.
He noted that hiring vigilantes was cheaper than engaging the police.
“The businessmen, who are among the wealthy people in the area, have continued to fund the Nsu Security Vigilance Group. They have also purchased patrol vehicles for the local security outfit. This is all targeted at countering moves by criminals.
“Some of the vigilance groups here in Ehime Mbano and other parts of Imo State escort these rich men to burials and other ceremonies just to protect them. The vigilantes are paid salaries every month. Millions of naira have been spent on vigilantes by these wealthy men since the rise of insecurity in the state and the South-East in general,” Anowi added.
South-East killing fields
The killings in the South-East have increased in the last few weeks.
On Sunday, suspected criminals invaded Amagu and two other villages in Nkalaha community, Ishielu LGA of Ebonyi State, killing no fewer than 10 residents and burning houses.
As of Wednesday, the death toll had risen to 15, with many more residents still missing.
Again, at least six church members, including a pastor of The Lord’s Chosen Church, Nkaleha, Ebonyi State, were killed by suspected hoodlums last Sunday.
Sources said the attackers also injured many worshippers during the attack.
Similarly, the lifeless body of Justice Azuka, the member representing Onitsha North 1 Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, was found along the 2nd Niger Bridge in the early hours of Thursday.
Azuka was abducted on Christmas Eve along Ugwunaobankpa Road in Inland Town, Onitsha, while returning home for the festivities.
However, his decomposing body was later discovered by a joint team of security operatives, raising further concerns over the spate of mindless killings in the South-East.
Earlier in January, a former National Human Rights Commission Chairman, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, who hails from Orsu, Imo State, posted on X that at least 18 people were killed in coordinated attacks across several communities in his hometown.
He listed the affected areas as Umukabia, Eziawa, Ihitte Nasa, Umuhu, Amaoku, and Amaebe, adding that the victims suffered machete wounds.
The President of the Idinma Orsu Initiative, Chief Chuddy Okparaku, told Saturday PUNCH how IPOB insurgents infiltrated the community in 2020.
PUNCH
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