South-East Insurgency: Businessmen Mobilize Vigilante Funds Amid Rising Insecurity

In the midst of the continuous rise of insurgency in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria, residents are no longer depending on the government alone for their safety as prominent businessmen are taking matters into their own hands to counter the wave of wanton killings and abductions that have left residents and investors reeling. According to findings, billions of naira have been raised by groups operating in key areas—including Orsu Local Government Area in Imo State and neighboring Ihiala council area in Anambra State—to fund vigilante movements aimed at curbing the reign of hoodlums terrorizing communities in Anambra, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, and Enugu states.

Business leaders, alarmed by a series of violent attacks that have rocked the region over the past week, have begun funding resistance groups to stem the tide of gunmen-related mayhem reported in towns such as Orlu, Okigwe, Oru West, and Ihiala. In rural areas, several wealthy entrepreneurs are reported to be discreetly backing local militias, signaling a growing trend where private sector resources are being funneled into community-based security initiatives.

A notable effort is being led by the Idinma Orsu Initiative, a community-led group that has already raised over N800 million in Imo State. According to its President, Chief Chuddy Okapaku, the initiative was born out of a desperate need to address the mounting kidnapping crisis and other security challenges. “After we held our initial gathering in Owerri, the criminal elements linked to the Eastern Security Network (ESN) began panicking—burning houses, looting goods, and even blocking roads with hijacked trailers to cut off the authorities,” he explained. Following a month-long audience with Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, the group joined forces with the Department of State Services and secured military involvement. “Starting in one town, we expanded our efforts to fight IPOB-linked criminals, assisting the military by supplying fuel and food while organizing our own vigilantes with over 18 operational vehicles,” Okapaku added. Now entering its fifth year, the initiative’s successes include both strategic partnerships with security forces and tangible improvements in local safety.

Meanwhile, in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, local merchants have launched a similar scheme by funding a small vigilance outfit known as the Nsu Security Vigilance Group. Chief Kelechi Anowi, a community leader, told Saturday PUNCH that the vigilantes now regularly escort wealthy individuals to burials and public ceremonies to preempt potential attacks. “Hiring these vigilantes is significantly cheaper than engaging the police, and millions of naira have been spent to keep our communities secure,” he noted.

The security crisis in the South-East has worsened in recent weeks. In Ebonyi State’s Ishielu LGA, suspected criminals invaded Amagu and two other villages in the Nkalaha community, initially killing at least 10 residents and setting houses ablaze. By Wednesday, the death toll had risen to 15, with many still missing. In a separate incident, at least six church members—including a pastor from The Lord’s Chosen Church in Nkaleha, Ebonyi—lost their lives during an attack that also left numerous worshippers injured.

Tragedy has not spared political figures either. The decomposing body of Justice Azuka, a member of the Anambra State House of Assembly representing Onitsha North 1 Constituency, was discovered along the 2nd Niger Bridge early Thursday. Azuka, who was abducted on Christmas Eve along Ugwunaobankpa Road while returning home for the festivities, is one of several high-profile victims in a series of recent coordinated attacks. Earlier in January, former National Human Rights Commission Chairman Professor Chidi Odinkalu reported on X that coordinated attacks across Orsu in Imo State claimed at least 18 lives, with victims suffering machete wounds in communities such as Umukabia, Eziawa, Ihitte Nasa, Umuhu, Amaoku, and Amaebe.\

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Critics point to the longstanding insurgency in the region—allegedly driven by the militant wing of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), known as the Eastern Security Network—as partly responsible for the deteriorating security situation. Chief Chuddy Okapaku recounted how insurgents first infiltrated his community in 2020 and how the militants later exploited the rugged terrain of Orsu Itokwa to evade authorities. “Our valleys—some as deep as 800 to 1,500 meters—have become hideouts for these terrorists, stripping our people of freedom and peace,” he lamented.

A viral video circulating on social media has further intensified public outrage. The footage shows heavily armed men, dressed in black, brutally assaulting a young man who was simply fetching water. Netizens reacted with shock and sorrow, with one user remarking, “A boy simply going to the stream to fetch water!” The incident has reignited calls for comprehensive investigations. A prominent, unnamed businessman in Enugu State decried the rising violence, urging government agencies to thoroughly investigate the attackers and bring them to justice. “We have lost too many innocent youths. The government must act to ensure that these killings come to an end,” he said.

The increasing insecurity has not only disrupted daily life but has also instilled a pervasive climate of fear throughout the region. A viral video that surfaced on Sunday captured the harrowing scene of heavily armed men in black clothing brutally assaulting a young man who was merely fetching water. In the video, the victim was subjected to relentless beatings, forced interrogations, and ultimately shot in the head at close range. Social media erupted in outrage, with one user lamenting, “This is so sad. A boy simply going to the stream to fetch water!”

Prominent voices have called for a comprehensive investigation into these violent acts. An anonymous businessman in Enugu decried the loss of innocent lives and stressed that proper investigations could have prevented many of the tragedies. “If thorough investigations had been conducted, perhaps some of these youths would have been spared,” he said, urging the government to take decisive action against the perpetrators.

However, not all responses have been uniform. The Special Adviser to the Imo State Governor on Public Communication, Onwuasoanya Jones, dismissed the notion that the attackers in the viral video were part of any official vigilante group. “The individuals in that video are not recognized operatives of any community security organization in Imo State. They appear to be criminals aiming to tarnish the reputation of legitimate security operations,” Jones stated.

The South-East, once known for its vibrant communities and robust economic activities such as farming, palm wine tapping, basket weaving, and trading, now faces the grim reality of deserted towns and rampant violence. Areas including Orsu, Orlu, Agwa and Okigwe in Imo State, as well as parts of Anambra, have been particularly hard hit. In Ideato North, for instance, a council chairman named Chris Ohizu was abducted and later beheaded, further underscoring the severity of the crisis.

Insurgency in the region, particularly the activities of the militant wing of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) known as the Eastern Security Network (ESN), has exacerbated the situation. Credible sources indicate that the first ESN attack occurred on December 24, 2020, in Orsu, when a group led by one Mike Ahizu gun down resident Daniel Kizito. Days later, Chief Leo Anuforo, the President-General of Isiekenesi, was killed along with two security operatives at Awo-Idemili.

Chief Okapaku recounted how insurgents infiltrated his community in 2020 and exploited the rugged terrain of Orsu Itokwa to evade the authorities. “There are several valleys in our community—some as deep as 800 to 1,500 meters—that these terrorists use as hideouts. Their presence has stripped us of our freedom and peace,” he lamented.

As the South-East grapples with unprecedented insecurity, the actions of local businessmen and community groups highlight a growing trend of self-help amid governmental inaction. While these vigilante funding efforts have provided immediate, albeit controversial, relief to some communities, they also raise critical questions about the long-term strategy for security in the region.

For now, the plight of the South-East remains dire. With each passing day, communities are witnessing the disintegration of long-held social and economic fabrics. However, the mobilization of funds by prominent businessmen to support local security initiatives represents a determined effort by the region’s elite to reclaim control and restore a semblance of peace.

As investigations continue and state governments begin to strengthen their security measures—some even launching multi-agency operations—the hope remains that a comprehensive, government-led solution will eventually emerge. Until then, the burden of protection falls increasingly on local communities, who must navigate the dual challenges of self-defense and economic survival in a region long defined by its resilience and entrepreneurial spirit.

In response to the escalating crisis, several state governments are strengthening security measures. Anambra State, under Governor Chukwuma Soludo, recently enacted the Anambra State Homeland Security Law (2025) and launched ‘Operation Udo Ga-Achi’—a multi-agency operation involving over 2,000 operatives across all 179 communities, supported by AI-powered monitoring centers with a central hub in Awka. Similarly, Ebonyi State is considering an interstate surveillance initiative to bolster intelligence-sharing with neighboring states and prevent further border attacks.

As the region grapples with widespread insecurity and deserted communities, the call from businessmen and community leaders is clear: urgent and collaborative action is needed to restore safety and foster a stable environment for residents and investors alike. While vigilance groups have emerged as a stop-gap measure, there is also need for long-term solutions require robust law enforcement, effective intelligence operations, and comprehensive state intervention to bring an end to the reign of hoodlums in the South-East.