Life Returns to Once-Deserted Igbo Communities After Years of Terror

After nearly five years of relentless attacks by criminal gangs widely referred to as unknown gunmen, communities across the South-East, particularly in Imo and Anambra States, are beginning to experience a long-awaited return to peace and normalcy. Once abandoned homes are being reoccupied, traditional festivals have resumed, and signs of communal life are slowly reemerging in areas previously gripped by terror.

Between 2020 and 2024, parts of the South-East region faced severe insecurity as heavily armed gangs unleashed violence, kidnappings, and destruction. The epicentres of these activities were primarily in Imo and Anambra States, where the assailants overran rural communities, imposed illegal curfews, and turned local forests into fortified camps. Monday “sit-at-home” orders—brutally enforced by these gunmen—brought economic and social life to a halt. Thousands were killed or displaced, and many communities were reduced to ghost towns.

In Anambra State, notorious camps sprang up in Ukpor and Utu in Nnewi South, as well as Lilu, Orsumoghu, Mbosi, and Uli in Ihiala Local Government Area. These camps were heavily fortified, making access by security forces extremely difficult. Survivors of kidnappings from these areas described horrifying conditions—ransom demands enforced through torture, use of drugs and charms, and routine killings.

Imo State faced a similar ordeal, particularly after Governor Hope Uzodimma assumed office in 2020. Armed men—soon dubbed Unknown Gunmen—launched coordinated attacks on police stations, correctional facilities, and public institutions. In 2021, the Imo State Police Command and the Correctional Centre in Owerri were attacked, leading to mass jailbreaks and further chaos. Governor Uzodimma accused political opponents of sponsoring the violence but vowed to restore order through a mix of state and community-based security initiatives.

As pressure from federal and local security forces intensified, the criminal elements retreated from the cities into rural areas, particularly in Orsu and Okigwe Local Government Areas. Orsu became the epicentre of violence, as communities were completely overrun. Residents fled their ancestral homes, schools and markets shut down, and entire villages were converted into operational bases by the militants. Allegations of human sacrifice and cannibalism further deepened the horror.

However, a major breakthrough came in March 2025, when a combined operation of military and local security forces stormed the infamous “Produce Camp” in Edenta, Orsu. The operation reportedly neutralized over twenty militants and uncovered human remains, charms, and weapons. This decisive action led to the recovery of surrounding communities, including Ubahaezike, Amadim, and Ezeogwu, and the reopening of the long-abandoned Orsu Divisional Police Headquarters.

Today, a cautious but visible revival is underway. Families are returning to their homes, overgrown compounds are being cleared, and local ceremonies such as burials and new yam festivals have resumed. “We are back to our homes, and there has been no attack for some time,” said Geoffrey Okereke, a native of Ubahaezike. “Last week, we held a burial peacefully for the first time in years. Nothing feels like home.”

In Amaruru community, residents celebrated their first new yam festival in half a decade. “Those who wanted to destroy our land are gone,” said community member Chibuike Uba. “Peace has returned to Orsu, and we urge others still afraid to come home.”

A similar sense of relief has spread to Okigwe, following the arrest of the notorious gang leader Ifeanyi Eze Okorienta, popularly known as Gentle De Yahoo. His capture by the military brought a sense of security back to the region. In efforts to encourage resettlement, local businessmen have announced a ₦5 million table tennis tournament aimed at promoting unity and reviving social life in Okigwe.

Although the scars of the past remain visible, the people of Imo and Anambra are hopeful. Schools are reopening, businesses are returning, and security patrols are now regular sights. After years of fear and displacement, the long-suffering communities of the South-East are finally beginning to breathe again—one homecoming, one ceremony, and one peaceful night at a time.