After more than five years of displacement caused by insecurity and separatist violence, communities across Anambra State are finally witnessing a return to peace and normal life. Areas once dominated by armed groups — including Azia, Orsumoghu, Lilu, Isekke, Uli, Ihiala, Ukpor, and Amichi — have gradually come back to life under Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s renewed security drive.
These communities, which became ghost towns during the height of insecurity, were previously controlled by gunmen enforcing the sit-at-home order in solidarity with detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu. During that period, residents fled, markets and schools shut down, and even burials and marriages were moved outside the affected areas. Law enforcement officers were frequently targeted, while locals lived in fear of extortion, abduction, and death.
When Soludo assumed office in 2021, Ihiala and several neighbouring towns were virtually inaccessible. Elections were postponed, and security operatives faced heavy resistance from criminal gangs. Determined to change the narrative, Soludo made security his top priority, declaring that “no development can take place in an atmosphere of insecurity.”
In his emotional inaugural speech, he condemned the violence ravaging the South East, urging agitators to embrace dialogue and peace. He warned against turning Igboland into a “crime scene,” saying that every “sit-at-home” day costs Anambra’s poor citizens an estimated ₦19.6 billion in lost income. He called on youth in the forests to surrender their arms and work towards building a livable and prosperous homeland.
To match words with action, Soludo launched the Agunechemba Security Outfit, a community-based security network operating across Anambra’s 179 communities. Since its establishment, incidents of kidnapping, cultism, and violent attacks have drastically reduced, earning the governor widespread commendation.
The return of peace has revived community life. In Orsumoghu and Isekke, youths are now clearing markets and churches, while cultural festivals like the New Yam celebration have resumed for the first time in years. Churches hold regular services again, and diaspora indigenes are planning to return home for the festive season.
“I never believed I’d set foot in Azia again after all that happened,” said Uche Nwaka, a trader at Azia Market. “Soludo has indeed brought life back to our people. Thank God I have my voter’s card.”
For many residents, Anambra’s story has shifted from fear to hope — a testament to how determined leadership and strategic security reforms can rebuild even the most troubled communities.
