Prosper Okoye
Youths in Amiyi Obilohia, a community in Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State, on Thursday blocked the main road leading to the local market in protest over the killing of two young men during a confrontation with suspected armed robbers.
The protest follows weeks of rising insecurity in the area, with residents reporting repeated attacks by criminal gangs who target people for their motorcycles and other valuables.
A resident, Chinecherem Ogbuabuo, told Prime Business Africa that the incident occurred at about 5:00 a.m. when a group of men believed to be armed robbers were being pursued by local hunters and youths.
Join our WhatsApp Channel“During the pursuit, gunfire broke out. Two of the youths who joined the operation were hit by bullets. One died at the scene, while the other later died from his injuries as people tried to take him for treatment,” he said.
Ogbuabuo added that both victims were recently married and had young children.
The deaths sparked anger across the community, with youths accusing the authorities of failing to provide adequate security despite repeated attacks in the area. By morning, protesters had gathered on the main road to the market, blocking traffic and forcing businesses to shut down as they demanded urgent government intervention.
Many residents say fear has now gripped the area, with women reluctant to go to their farms and traders worried about travelling on the roads.
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Community leaders have called on the Abia State Government, the Nigeria Police Force and the military to deploy more security personnel to the area. They are also appealing to the mayor of Isuikwuato Local Government Area, Chinedu Ekeke; the state lawmaker for the constituency, Lucky Udoka Nwaeke Johnson; the federal lawmaker, Amobi Ogah; and the state governor, Alex Otti, to intervene.
The latest incident has also revived memories of previous violent attacks in the area. It was gathered that gunmen attacked the home of a pastor in Amiyi Obilohia, resulting in the killing of two young girls.
As of the time of filing this report, the police had not issued an official statement on the latest killings, and efforts to reach the Abia State Police Public Relations Officer were unsuccessful.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
