In The Enclave Of Unknown Gunmen In Imo State

BY AGBONSUREMI AUGUSTINE OKHIRIA

Isu town is in the Orlu Local Government Area of Imo state, which many describe as the home base of UGM, the Unknown Gun Men operating in an “unstoppable” style in Imo state.

Isu town, I was told, was usually a vibrant community with big, big houses like any other Igbo community but has been wholly deflated and brought to its old shadow by the threats of guns and violence in Imo state, like most parts of South Eastern Nigeria.

Isu is Inlaw to Ogwa, my home base in Edo state. My nephew, Odion Imaralu, an Ogwa Prince picked his amiable wife, Chichi from Isu, and when her aged mother joined her ancestors, and it was time for the funeral, I knew I had to be in Isu, guns or no guns.

Everyone I sought their opinion, advised me against the “deadly” trip to Isu in Orlu for the burial ceremonies.

Odion and Chichi, who live in New York, were with me in Canada during my son’s wedding last year.

Odion, again, abandoned everything to be with me for a long time in Regina when I lost my wife in April.

When it became clear that the burial must take place in Isu, it equally became apparent that no threats of guns would stop me from heading into the enclave of the UGM.

I resisted the urge to contact Angela Agoawike, my sister from Imo, who is the proprietor of Omalicha FM in Owerri and my other junior sister, the brilliant and well-endowed GM of Imo Broadcasting Corporation, Ify Onyegbule, who I admire from a distance but whom I have not met physically, to let them know I was planning to be in their territory.

I had to inform my old-time friend and brother, Prof Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, who, though is from Imo state is the Chairman of the Anambra State Truth, Peace and Justice Committee looking into the violent crisis in Anambra and its surrounding states.

Prof Odinkalu is also the chairman of the board of PRIMORG, my legacy not-for-profit project.

He explained the artificial nature of guns and violence in the South East and the dynamics of its operations and swore that I would not smell any violence and that the locals were going about their lives quietly as the threats hung only in the air.

He recommended an airport taxi driver to take me around Imo State without any security escort.

I was in Isu on Friday morning from Owerri, and the ceremonies, including the well-attended church service, went smoothly without an incident.

By 6:00 pm, I was back in the hotel in Owerri.

My best spot in town, Manure, was a shadow of itself due to management issues, I was told. So I went to Hungry Man for local delicacies.

My conclusion is that though the threats and violence hang everywhere, the hype is well above measure. It seems that those who benefit from guns and violence periodically stage targeted incidents to sustain the atmosphere of fear.

Some politicians are believed to be actors in this game to further their interests.

Welcome to Isu, the home of our in-laws.

My flight headed to Lagos.