Insecurity: Imo residents raise alarm over ‘influx of strangers, hunters’

Residents of Imo have raised an alarm over the influx of “strange hunters” in the state. 

They added that daily, these strangers are being dumped by trailers into Avu, Obinze in Owerri-West LGA and several other suburbs.

A resident of Owerri municipal, who pleaded anonymity, said over 90 percent of commercial motorcyclists in Obinze, Avu, and FUTO areas are unknown faces and barely speak Igbo.

He compared the presence of strangers in Imo to what obtained in Plateau, urging security agencies to take appropriate actions.

“If we are not careful with the daily influx of strange elements into Imo, I’m afraid the state may be worse than Plateau where hundredths are slaughtered in one snap,” the resident stated.

“I was in FUTO in Owerri recently and discovered that more than 90% of Okada riders inside the school are strangers. This is how it took root in Plateau state. Gradually they are penetrating every nook and cranny of the state.

“Let me tell you that I have the history of Plateau in my palms. I was born in Manguna, a little village in Bokkos, more than 63 years ago.

“My father used to be a cattle herder before finally relocating home in 1990. I see a particular pattern of Plateau crisis taking root in Imo. We need to be careful.

“You should ask yourselves why these strangers often choose to congregate close to military establishments. We should be alert and find a way to protect ourselves from the unknown enemies surrounding us.

“Our security agencies too should step up actions and interrogate this set of strangers, know their mission and where they sleep at night in order not to be taken unawares when they strike.”

Another resident who pleaded anonymity said: “As we speak, another trailer load of strange persons and dogs are currently at Njaba River entering the capital city of Owerri”.

“Some are dumped at Avu Junction and Nekede Cluster market. All military and police checkpoints should not allow the offloading of these people and their dogs in Imo again,” he added.

“It’s amazing that with all these alarm people are raising, the government and security agencies have not come to make a statement, nor clarification as to know the intents and mission of these strange hunters.

“All we are saying is the security and safety of all Imolites is sacrosanct. Any single security alert should be looked into by the police and army in order not to be taken unawares.”

Reacting to the development, Henry Okoye, the Imo state police spokesperson, said the command was yet to ascertain if the said hunters were actually dumped in Imo state.

“We had all the information that it didn’t happen in Imo state. But I don’t know where and when it happened. That was why it took me time to respond because we were actually making our findings,” Okoye said.

In a similar vein, Bright Edafe, the Delta state police spokesperson, said the hunters were intercepted at Agbor in Delta state, and after profiling, the police discovered that they were indeed hunters.

“May God forgive peddlers of fake news. These were hunters intercepted in Agbor, Delta state,” Edafe said.

“After profiling them, we discovered they were indeed hunters. Yet people are saying the direct opposite, even saying it happened in Imo state when it did not. I repeat, may God forgive peddlers of fake news!”