Insecurity: How Asaba became home to South-East indigenes
Following the persistent insecurity that has taken its toll on the Southeast region, affecting businesses, individuals, and school children, many indigenes from communities and towns in the region are now terrified and are relocating to other nearby states where they feel safer.
Besides violent agitators, cultists, and kidnappers, the violent activities of youths if not checked, would be worse than the activities of gunmen who kidnap, rob, and sometimes on extreme assassination missions, kill and behead their victims.
Many have taken their destinies into their own hands and decided to relocate to safer places to avoid sad stories.
While Anambra and Imo States seem the worst hit, other states in the region are also affected in various degrees.
According to investigations, micro businesses in Nigeria’s Southeastern states lost an average of N4.618 trillion ($10.495 billion) in one year to the sit-at-home order that the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, imposed on the region.
The enforcement of the sit-at-home order every Monday was an approach IPOB adopted to protest the Federal Government’s continued detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The total estimated revenues of micro-businesses in the five South-Eastern states were summed up and multiplied by 52 weeks to arrive at N4.618 trillion.
The investigation relied on figures from the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, Nigeria’s data agency, and the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, 2021 survey reports.
The survey classified Nigerian businesses into four categories: nano, micro, small, and medium enterprises. It concentrated on nano and micro businesses, which made up 96.9 per cent (38.413 million) of the 39.654 million MSMEs in Nigeria. Most of those interviewed are in the informal (untaxed and unregulated) sector.
According to the SMEDAN/NBS report, there were 1.297 million micro/nano enterprises in Anambra State and 764,844 in Abia State.
Enugu State was estimated to have 1.154 million micro/nano enterprises, while Ebonyi had 561,287 businesses in the category. Also, Imo State had 1.231 million micro/nano businesses.
From the computations, the South-East lost an estimated N75.704 billion every Monday on nano and micro businesses. This was disaggregated as follows: Anambra, N38.140 billion, Enugu N9.334 billion, Imo N13.739 billion, Ebonyi N4.079 billion, and Abia N10.412 billion.
The loss sum did not, however, represent the entire economic cost of the sit-at-home order, as the report focused only on the price paid by the smallest businesses for sitting at home, while their counterparts in other regions were busy.
While other regions of the country observe their normal commercial and economic activities every week unhindered, the same cannot be said of the South-East.
The sit-at-home has led to the closure of banks, markets, schools, and offices on a weekly basis. Several roads are often deserted as residents observe the exercise in fear.
Efforts by governors of the region to put an end to the menace have yet to yield results.
According to Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, “everyday there is a sit-at-home, the poor masses lose an estimated N19.6 billion in Anambra alone. Due to the protracted breakdown of law and order, businesses are relocating outside Igboland, with growing unemployment, and traders who used to come to shop in Onitsha, Nnewi, Aba, etc, are going elsewhere. Who is losing?
“By forcing our children, the future of Igboland, to stay at home instead of being in school, while even the critically sick people (including pregnant women) cannot go to the hospital, we harm our future.
Shortly after assuming office, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State had directed Enugu State civil servants, market leaders, traders, and the like to open on Mondays, calling for collaborative efforts to end insecurity in the South East geopolitical zone.
He said Enugu State would not become the premier destination for investments, residence, and tourism if the people continued to dissipate energy on faceless marauders, and urged the people of the state not to be deceived by those using the name of IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, as a cover for their criminalities.
But despite all these efforts to nip the menace in the bud, the “enforcers” of the sit-at-home have continued to threaten residents.
The gunmen also forced the residents to comply with the sit-at-home order on other days.
Severally, many communities of the South-East practically become ghost towns as gunmen suspected to be loyal to Finland-based Simon Ekpa carried out attacks on marketplaces and other places in the region.
While the South East governments battle to stem the raging violence in the region, individuals are taking their destinies into their own hands.
Asaba and nearby towns to the rescue
Eloka Obi recently relocated his building materials business and his family from Awka to Asaba to resettle.
According to Eloka, nobody crosses the Niger Bridge on a Monday. People who travel on Mondays usually cross the Niger Bridge a day before to Asaba from where they made their trips or wait till Tuesday. Those entering the South-East cross the bridge on Sundays and other days but not on a Monday. Criminals officially use Mondays to operate publicly in the South-East.
“Gradually, people are beginning to understand that it makes more sense living in Delta, Rivers, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom than living in the South-East. If you are living in Onitsha or Awka, your best bet is Asaba and if you are living in Imo or Abia, your best bet is Rivers or Cross River. We are taking our destinies into our own hands. Those who are staying in the South-East region have also devised other means of survival.
“People don’t reveal their movements to others. People don’t move in exotic cars and those who do especially those who came home during Christmas moved with plainclothes security officials. People dress down. They avoid public places and paying visits or letting people visit them anyhow. Everybody is coded and movements are coded. People are discreet in their movements and when you see somebody during the daytime, chances are, they will relocate to sleep elsewhere by night. Some sleep in hotels and never the same hotel all the time. They code how they move and that is what insecurity has done to the region,” Eloka revealed.
“In Asaba which is my new home, a lot of people have relocated and have even into neighbouring towns near Asaba. There are many people from South-East states now living in Asaba and the number increases every day. People try to minimize having to cross the Niger Bridge into Onitsha. Land is now expensive in Asaba and it’s funny when people from the South-East zone say they are travelling home but end up in their new family houses in Asaba from where they connect to kith and kin in the South-East. When you hear people like Senator Ned Nwoko advocating for Anioma State as the sixth South-East state, just know he is making sense. Many Igbo have left their homes in the South-East and built homes in other places nearby.
“There is insecurity everywhere, even in Asaba here. How far can you run from home? The only thing is that gunmen attacks are not here. There is no sit-at-home. My business opens every day as I want it. When I was in Onitsha, my customers sometimes had problems coming into Onitsha on Mondays. I usually meet them halfway by bringing goods to keep at Asaba so they won’t have the problem of Monday’s sit-at-home. When I found out it favours them that way, I opened a branch of the business at Asaba while keeping the main branch at Onitsha.
But I relocated my wife and children because I’m not comfortable with my children missing school every Monday. Asaba is also Igbo but it’s part of Delta State and the South-South. This thing we are saying is not a joke. Some relocated up to Benin City and Lagos because business is what we are known for. If you recall, Cubana Chief Priest relocated a business from Imo to Lagos due to insecurity. If you go to any community in Nigeria or even the whole of Africa and you don’t see an Igbo businessman, just run for your life.
Also commenting on the issue, Mrs Ego Eriya, a landlord in Asaba said the city is the new Abuja. “People are coming into Asaba in droves from across the Niger. I don’t know if it’s due to insecurity but they are relocating their businesses and families. There are movements from across the Niger into Asaba and so many projects going on.”
Living in South-East had been horrifying—Chekwas Okorie
Reacting to the development, Chief Chekwas Okorie, the founder of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, said that living in the southeast has been a hell of an experience.
According to him, “Living in the South-East States had been horrifying and discomforting for several years.
The security of the South-East geo-political zone began to deteriorate when the Buhari administration proceeded unwittingly to abduct Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, from Kenya to Nigeria for trial. His extraordinary rendition from Kenya was widely condemned worldwide. His ardent followers mounted intensive protests in Nigeria and the diaspora. The South-East came under siege by Nigeria’s security forces. This unfortunate development was seized by both state and non-state actors to make the Southeast a living hell for millions of innocent citizens.
“But the situation has largely abated. Now, Anambra State is unarguably the most unsafe state in the South-East. Millions of Igbo people who surged back to their communities to celebrate the Yuletide with their families and communities can attest to improved security in other areas. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about Anambra State. Those who are relocating their families to Asaba in Delta State and across the Niger every day to ply their trade in Onitsha and environ are mostly from Anambra State. There is hardly any week that passes without dastardly attacks and fatalities perpetrated by state and non-state actors in Anambra State. There is nowhere in Igbo land where traditional/Christian marriages as well as burial ceremonies are done outside except in Anambra State. This is abominable and scandalous. I recommend that the government of Anambra State may have to take a cue from its neighboring Enugu State, where Governor Peter Mbah has a grip on the security situation in Enugu State. I live in Enugu State, and I can attest to the efficacy of his governance model.
“Nowhere in Nigeria is completely safe. But taking a dispassionate view of the security situation in the South-East, I maintain that insecurity in other states in the geopolitical zone has abated considerably. It is the constitutional mandate for the government at all levels to guarantee the welfare and security of their citizens. Narrowing down to the 2024/2025 Christmas/New Year season, Anambra State was the most notorious for incessant kidnappings, assassinations, and bloody cult clashes. The records are available.
“Many communities in Igbo land have devised different methods of securing themselves. In most cases, community-based vigilante groups are recruited and equipped to provide security. A few wealthy men and women hire official security personnel from their state command at a premium. This is usually a big business for authorizing officers. It is so bad that most police stations do not have personnel to carry out their statutory duties because they have been rented or hired out to those with big pockets to purchase their services.”
Govt is not helping matters—Anene
Chief Augustine Anene, who has built a magnificent hotel in Asaba, the capital of Delta State said he spent three years moving from one table to another in the state’s Ministry of Lands when he tried to invest in the hospitality business in Onitsha only to be disappointed in the long run.
“I bought six plots of land at the 33 area of Onitsha to build the best hotel in the commercial city. I spent millions of naira to be able to get a Certificate of Occupancy, C of O, and for three years, I was tossed about by civil servants who kept making one demand after another.
“Out of frustration, my partners suggested that I should look elsewhere if I was serious about investing in the hotel business. That was how I made inquiries in Delta State and within six months, I acquired land in a strategic area of the city where I built the hotel that has over 100 people in direct employment.
“Many businessmen in the state have such experiences and they were forced out of the state. I want to let you know that about half of the business outfits in Asaba are owned by the people of Anambra State who could not cope with not only the insecurity but the harsh government policies.
Also speaking on the issue, Chief Clifford Olisa said “The problem of insecurity is another reason many people are running away from Anambra State. A situation whereby people are forced to stay at home every Monday is destructive. I also transferred my business to Benin City, Edo State”.
Olisa said although his business has not been doing well in Edo State, it is more secure to remain there.
Home is haven—Goddy Uwazurike
Also reacting to the development, Chief Goddy Uwazurike said that home is home.
“The insecurity in the east is incredibly hard but the real indigenes will not abandon their homes.
Kidnappings and killings are the order of the day, but the people have learnt to live with the situation.
Building or acquiring property in Asaba is not new. South-East investors have been in the business of property development in Asaba for economic reasons.”
New trend of violence, another reason for relocating out of S-East —Landlords Association
For the landlords’ association from Oba, life in the South-East is gradually becoming brutish, crude, and nasty, due not only to the violent activities of hoodlums who rob, kidnap, and kill their victims but also another form of violence and intimidation introduced by youths who have turned themselves to terror gangs that survive through all manner of extortion activities from land developers.
“South East residents used to boast of the peaceful nature of the zone, which was once the pride of Nigeria, due to the industrious people it is made up of, and its peaceful nature, unlike other zones that are characterized by one violent agitation or the other that threatens peace.
“The people of South East are now terrified and are relocating to other nearby states they feel are safe not only because of insecurity caused by hoodlums but another kind of insecurity perpetrated by terror youth gangs, who survive through extortion, intimidation, and harassment of landlords and land developers who are now forced to relocate Asaba and its environs to build family houses.
“The new trend of violence introduced by youths in Anambra State, particularly in some communities near Onitsha the commercial city and Awka the capital city of Anambra State, is forcing residents of such communities to relocate out of the state to places like Asaba and nearby communities to it.
“The violent activities of youths on land matters is ongoing in some communities close to Onitsha the commercial city of Anambra State and residents in these communities are afraid and complaining bitterly that if not checked, it will be worse than the activities of gunmen who kidnap, rob and sometimes on extreme assassination missions, kill and behead their victims.”
The landlords said further, “We are members of different estates in Oba, but came together as United City Residents Landlords Association, Oba, because of the maltreatment we are receiving from the community youths who claim to be Compensatory Plot Committee.
People were shocked I drove alone to a dreaded community—Notable Igbo politician
During an interactive session with some journalists, a former governor and a presidential candidate in the last general election recalled how he drove to a community in Igboland and people were shouting, asking why he would expose himself to danger.
“Other prominent people who attended the same event told me I took a huge risk driving to that community when many of them were dressed down and came in keke and okada. Things have gone really bad. People cannot drive big cars or wear good clothes to certain places because of fear of bad people but I went and returned safely. People should not run away from home.”
There’s nothing wrong in people relocating to Delta for safety —Abia monarch
The paramount traditional ruler of Abiriba ancient kingdom of Abia State, HRM Eze Kalu Kalu Ogbu iv (Enachoken Abiriba), said there was nothing wrong with people from South East relocating to Asaba, Delta State to build houses and live due to the lingering insecurity in the zone, arguing that Delta is still part of Igbo land.
Ogbu who, however, described the situation as very sad, noted that any measure taken to preserve life should be considered paramount.
The monarch said the situation had brought to the fore, the compelling need for everyone to be seriously involved in the efforts to secure South East.
He also noted with concern, the noncommittal attitude of some South East residents in the efforts to improve the security of the zone, arguing that security is a collective matter, and should not be left in the hands of the Government alone.
The monarch said:” It’s a very sad situation but looking at it from a holistic perspective, if your house is burning and you can’t quench the fire what else do you do? You relocate to where you find safety. After all, Delta is still part of Igbo land. It’s just demarcated by the River Niger.
“ Do you want somebody to remain where he is not safe? No! He has to move. Since Delta is still within Igbo land, I don’t see anything wrong with that. It then behooves us to unite and improve the security in the East.
“Are we doing enough to address the issues causing the relocation from South East? Security is not just for the Governors, all of us should be involved.”
Similarly, the National President of Igbo Women Assembly, IWA, Lolo Nneka Chimezie, did not see anything wrong in people from the South East building homes in Delta, affirming that “Delta is still part and parcel of Igbo land.”
She attributed the development to the proximity of Asaba to Onitsha, a major business hub in the region, adding that the practice of Ndigbo building houses in Delta has long been on before the advent of insecurity in South East.
According to her, “Asaba has become a strategic city because of its closeness to Onitsha and gateway to the West, hence businessmen and investors see it as a strategic place for investment.”
She noted that the East is a land of many opportunities which only needs government attention and improvement in the security situation to boost the people’s confidence.
The IWA President lamented that multiple security checkpoints on South East roads have become extortion points and are crippling businesses in the region.
“ The heavy presence of security personnel on our roads is killing businesses and slowing down movements. They are intimidating and scaring our youths out of the region.”
Anambra working on insecurity—Govt
However, the Anambra State government has said that the problem of insecurity would soon be a thing of the past when it launched a new security outfit, ‘Udo Ga Achi’ this January.
The state commissioner for information, Dr. Law Mefor said no stone will be left unturned when the comprehensive approach to confront security concerns in the state comes into operation.
According to the Information Commissioner, forest guards will be trained and incorporated into the Udo Ga- Achi security operations to enable them to collaborate with local vigilantes to comb the forests and rescue them from criminals.
“To address the security concerns in the South East and particularly Anambra, Governor Soludo’s administration is set to launch “Operation Udo Ga-Achi” (Operation Peace Shall Reign) this January.
“This comprehensive security initiative will integrate advanced surveillance technology, deploy branded vehicles for stop-and-search activities, and train forest guards to work with vigilantes and local authorities.
“Operation Udo Ga-Achi is designed to restore peace and stability in the Southeast, and Governor Soludo is committed to ensuring its success.
“The key components of Operation Udo Ga-Achi include Advanced Surveillance Technology that will utilize advanced surveillance technology, including drones and CCTV cameras, to monitor and track criminal activities, branded vehicles that will be deployed for stop-and-search activities, to ensure that criminals are apprehended and brought to justice and forest guards will be trained to work with vigilantes and local authorities, ensuring that criminal activities are prevented and responded to effectively.”
Asaba is developing fast—Real estate developer
According to Osa, an Asaba-based real estate developer, “Asaba is benefitting from its proximity to Onitsha and this is driven by factors such as comparatively better availability and cost of land, insecurity, property saturation and its attendant high cost in Onitsha metropolitan area, governance issues and provision of infrastructure.