The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), on Friday, condemned the recent deadly attacks in Arondizuogu, Imo State, and Bokkos, Plateau State, describing them as clear evidence of persistent security and intelligence failures by the government and its agencies.
HURIWA criticized the Imo State Police Command for blaming the attacks on the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN), without making any arrests or providing evidence.
In a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the rights group decried the brutal ambush and killing of 14 residents in Bokkos by unknown gunmen on Thursday evening as they returned from a weekly market.
Onwubiko called on the federal and Imo State governments to take steps to secure the lives of citizens in most local communities that have become ungoverned spaces, especially in parts of Orlu and Okigwe Senatorial zones of Imo State.
The rights group noted that residents of communities far from Owerri and other urban centres of Imo State lack the presence of formidable security forces to stave off the incessant attacks targeting the rural populace, just as the rights group carpeted the security forces for always coming to the affected communities several hours after the attackers had unleashed bloodletting violence and left.
HURIWA listed the affected communities—Ndi-Ejezie, Umualaoma, and Ndiakuwata Uno—which were left in shock, with disturbing viral videos showing charred bodies lying on the floors of affected homes, as terrified residents mourned the victims.
Onwubiko said: “The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma, has strongly condemned the gruesome attack carried out by gunmen suspected to be members of the proscribed IPOB/ESN in the early hours of today, 25th July 2025,” the statement read.
“The senseless assault claimed the lives of over seven persons and left several others critically injured. The CP assured the public that the Command has deployed adequate operational and intelligence assets to track down and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“Danjuma reportedly led a tactical unit on an operation to comb the affected areas, affirming that the situation had been brought under control and that proactive measures had been taken to prevent further attacks.
“The Command called on residents with useful information to aid the ongoing investigation and report through its emergency lines: 08034773600 or 08103341610. All reports will be treated with strict confidentiality.”
HURIWA, however, noted that across the board, the heads of security agencies in Imo State have betrayed the law-abiding Nigerians in Imo State by not acting proactively to prevent and stop these gruesome murders, even as the rights group wondered how the police couldn’t prevent the attacks and, even without effecting any arrests, has already blamed the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The group said, “It is totally illogical that each time citizens are slaughtered in Imo State, the first statement from the police is to heap the blame on the members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). If the police already had prior knowledge that members of IPOB were planning to unleash bloodletting violence on the two communities in Arondizuogu, Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State, how come the police allowed the attack to happen?
“If the police claim that it had no knowledge of the attack in Arondizuogu, how come it has already identified the attackers, even when no single arrest has been made? Do the police in Imo State engage in ‘voodoo’ policing style, or how does one describe what has played out in Imo State?
“It is time for the security heads to be compelled to be accountable, and there have to be consequences for the dereliction of duties manifested by the heads of security agencies in Imo State and other states that have witnessed attacks by terrorists and bandits.”
