Social affairs analyst, Chukwuma Ofoegbu has argued that the wave of insecurity in the Southeast region cannot be attributed to faceless outsiders, insisting that those popularly described as “unknown gunmen” are in fact members of local communities.
Speaking on AIT Live News from 17;16, Ofoegbu dismissed the widespread notion that the perpetrators are mysterious or foreign actors. According to him, the attackers are well-known within their host communities but are often shielded by the anonymity of the label “unknown gunmen.”
“To some point that people started calling them unknown gunmen, and these are people that are from our place,” Ofoegbu said during the interview. “They are locals. We know where they are from. Most of them, if you go online now, you will still see them.”
The analyst stressed that the trend of mislabeling has created room for impunity, as communities fail to acknowledge the identities of those behind the killings, kidnappings, and arson attacks plaguing the region.
Ofoegbu’s comments come against the backdrop of recurring violent incidents in parts of the Southeast, often linked to separatist agitations and criminal groups operating under various banners. Security operatives have repeatedly raided suspected camps in states such as Imo, Anambra and Enugu, but the killings have continued, fueling fear and suspicion among residents.
He urged leaders, both political and traditional, to confront the reality that insecurity in the Southeast is largely an internal problem. “We cannot continue to deceive ourselves. These people live among us. Until we acknowledge this, solutions will remain far-fetched,” Ofoegbu added.
The remarks are expected to stir further debate on the region’s security challenges, particularly as calls grow louder for dialogue and community-driven approaches to ending the violence.
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