Organised crime seem to have assumed a new status in Imo state one of the states in the south east extraction of the country NEGROIDHAVEN can say.
According to data from Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta, PIND criminal insurgency has found unsavoury expression without let in the Niger Delta state.
PIND’s most recent weekly update which spotlights organised crime in the Niger Delta region with particular emphasis on criminal insurgency in Imo states that ‘criminal insurgency – criminal subversion of state legitimacy – and counter-insurgent violence caused over 400 fatalities in Imo State between January 2019 and June 2022. Recent data indicates a rise in criminal insurgency in the State including targeted killing of civilians and government security personnel.’
The report disclosed that security outfits were soft spots for the attack by the insurgents: ‘In August 2022, for instance, hoodlums reportedly attacked a Divisional Police Headquarters with petrol bombs and other improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and killed four police officers in Agwa community, Oguta LGA.
Private citizens and businesses were not left out: ‘Separately, in August, gunmen reportedly attacked a market and killed a commercial motorcyclist in Ogbaku community, Mbaitoli LGA. Also, in August, gunmen allegedly killed seven local security guards at different locations in Orogwe community, Owerri West LGA. Recently, on August 25, 2022, gunmen reportedly went on rampage, shot sporadically and burned several properties including houses, shops, and vehicles in Izombe community, Oguta LGA’, the report observed.
