LAGOS/Nigeria: His Royal Highness, Eze Boniface Chukwudi Okparaku, the Ezendigbo I of Abaranje/Okerube in Lagos and a prominent son of Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State, has called for immediate federal intervention to address what he described as five years of relentless killings, displacement and widespread destruction in his ancestral community.
In a Facebook post on Friday, Eze Okparaku said many Nigerians do not fully understand the scale of devastation in Orsu, noting that violent armed groups took control of parts of the area and unleashed unimaginable suffering on residents. According to him, more than 6,000 people were killed, while thousands of families in Orsu LGA and neighbouring communities in Anambra State fled their homes to escape the violence.
He alleged that the armed groups tortured residents, imposed movement restrictions and operated like a parallel government. Hospitals, schools, civic centres, homes and markets were razed, he said, adding that major investments — including hotels, pharmacies and other businesses — were vandalised or set ablaze.
Eze Okparaku further stated that many youths were coerced into joining the violent groups, while workers such as commercial drivers were lured into criminal activities. Politicians, business owners and community leaders were reportedly targeted, with families forced to pay ransoms to avert further attacks. Women and girls, he said, were subjected to violent assaults, including rape.
He estimated that the level of destruction in Orsu may take between 10 and 15 years to rebuild.
Despite the magnitude of the crisis, Eze Okparaku alleged that the federal government failed to intervene at the height of the attacks. He said only a few businessmen from Orsu acted to challenge the activities of the armed groups, even as residents continued to suffer displacement, killings and loss of livelihoods.
He expressed concern that while those behind the violence still operate from the Udeke Valley, government institutions seem more focused on targeting perceived political opponents through the courts rather than tackling insecurity and restoring peace.
The traditional ruler appealed to lawmakers and federal authorities to prioritise Orsu in national security discussions, insisting that the community urgently requires comprehensive intervention. He called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to immediately assess the humanitarian situation and provide compensation and special intervention funds to displaced families and affected communities.
Eze Okparaku stressed that those responsible for the violence in Orsu and across the Southeast must be brought to justice, saying accountability is essential for peace, healing and long-term recovery.
