Fear Grips Imo Communities as Armed Masked Herdsmen Invade Farmlands in Broad Daylight

Panic spread across Emekuku in Owerri North LGA of Imo State after villagers reported sighting at least eight masked herdsmen armed with AK-47 rifles advancing through farmlands in the early hours of Wednesday, June 12, 2025. Residents of Umunobo, Nkwu-Emeke, and Akalovu said the incident has left them in fear and confusion, with many abandoning their farms and homes.

The tension reportedly began after farmers had a heated clash with herders over the destruction of crops by grazing cattle days earlier. Villagers claimed the masked men, suspected to be the same herders, returned fully armed and appeared to be heading directly into the heart of their community from surrounding bushes.

Eyewitnesses described the gunmen as wearing black clothing and face masks, moving tactically across the farmland in what many perceived as a deliberate show of force. “We’ve never seen anything like this,” said a resident who spoke on condition of anonymity. “They weren’t just passing; they were coming for something.”

Responding to the uproar, Imo State Police Command confirmed it was aware of the development and had swiftly mobilized security forces. Police spokesperson DSP Henry Okoye said that Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, had deployed Divisional Police Officers from Owerri Urban, New Owerri, and Owerri North, alongside men of the Special Intervention Squad.

The security operation was launched in collaboration with personnel from the Nigerian Army, who have now begun patrols around Emekuku and surrounding villages. According to Okoye, “There is no cause for alarm as the situation is under control. We urge residents to remain calm and continue with their lawful activities.”

Despite the police assurances, many villagers remain skeptical and are calling for long-term security presence and swift investigation to prevent further escalation. Several local leaders have urged Governor Hope Uzodimma and federal authorities to intervene before the tension boils over into violence.

As the situation unfolds, civil society groups and traditional rulers across Imo are urging increased vigilance and better regulation of open grazing, warning that rural security lapses in areas like Emekuku could reignite communal crises and displace hundreds from their ancestral lands.