Southeast Nigeria is reeling from a series of chilling attacks in the Amanaogu Autonomous Community, Ihitenansa, located in the Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State. Reports from SaharaReporters indicate that at least 11 people, including women and children, were brutally killed on the night of Wednesday, January 8, by unidentified assailants.
Unconfirmed accounts paint an even grimmer picture, with casualties from the ongoing attacks between Sunday, January 5, and Wednesday, January 8, reportedly ranging from 30 to as many as 40 lives lost.
The latest assault occurred around 8 p.m. when attackers stormed the quiet community, leaving a trail of destruction and heartbreak. Gruesome videos obtained from the scene reveal at least 11 lifeless bodies sprawled in front of their homes. Families were reportedly slaughtered in their residences, while some fell victim at a nearby drinking joint.
One particularly harrowing scene depicted a family of four—a father, mother, their only child, and the grandmother—savagely killed in front of their small business center. In another heart-wrenching account, a family of five, who had sought refuge by locking themselves in an upstairs room, were hunted down and executed after the attackers broke down their doors.
“This very family ran into their house, locked their door, and went upstairs, yet these assailants broke the doors, went after them, and killed five persons inside,” a voice narrates in one of the videos. “A mother, son, daughter, and two other family members were all slaughtered. This is pure evil.”
Eyewitnesses claim the assailants used machetes on most victims, leaving behind scenes of unimaginable brutality, while some victims were reportedly shot. “You see, most of these people were killed with cutlasses and about three were shot. What sin did they commit? My heart really bleeds,” lamented another voice in the videos.
Efforts to obtain an official response from the Imo State Police Command have so far proven futile. When SaharaReporters contacted the police spokesperson, ASP Henry Okoye, he requested an inquiry via text message but failed to respond at the time of filing this report. Multiple calls also went unanswered.
The Amanaogu Ihitenansa and neighboring Amankwo Amaebu communities have borne the brunt of the escalating violence, raising concerns about a deepening crisis in the region.
The circumstances surrounding these attacks remain unclear, fueling fears of a larger security breakdown in Imo State. With no immediate accountability or intervention from law enforcement agencies, residents of Orsu LGA are gripped with terror, uncertain of what the future holds.
The tragic events in Amanaogu underscore the urgent need for decisive action to address the security challenges plaguing parts of Southeast Nigeria. As the bodies of the fallen are mourned, the community is left with a haunting question: Who is behind this wave of terror, and when will justice be served?
PIONEER NEWS 