Photo Credit: Throwback Times 

The rising spate of insecurity across Nigeria has become an alarming issue, with over 1,000 lives lost since January 2024, despite efforts by state governments to establish local security architectures. However, various challenges such as corruption, inadequate personnel, politicization, lack of funding, and poor intelligence gathering have crippled the fight against cultism and other security threats. The most recent and gruesome incident was the bloodbath that occurred in Nibo Awka Anambra State on 20th October, 2024 during the Nibo New Yarm festival, resulting in the death of numerous innocent citizens. 

The killings, which resulted in the deaths of no fewer than 13 persons, occurred when some Gunmen suspected to be cultists invaded an arena near the venue where the community’s New Yam festival, known as the ‘Nibo onwa asaa’ festival, was held. 

Sources said that the hoodlums emerged from a Lexus 300 jeep and opened fire on people having fun at the arena, located near the Oye Nwochichi Market, by Nibo Old Maternity, thereby killing eight persons instantly before proceeding to another location where other casualties were also recorded. 

Multiple sources claimed it's a cult war which began day before. Particular concern, was the growing insecurities in Anambra State politicized? Was Nibo massacre cult related or was it orchestrated by Sit-At-Home Enforcers?

1. Political: The recent surge in violence in Anambra State has raised questions about the role of politics in exacerbating the issue. Is it that oppositions politicizing or using insecurities as a tool to discredit the current administration of his Excellency Governor Chukwuma Soludo. Or is it same incumbent Government politicizing the insecurity situation for something else.

2. Cultism: The ongoing cult crash in Awka city has been a plague for the residents which has resulted to death of approximately over hundred since Jan 2024. Although the Gov't established local security architecture to tackle the matter but the current approach seems ineffective, highlighting the need for improved intelligence gathering to tackle the insecurity. Furthermore, the rate of corruptions in Nigeria is overwhelmingly affecting every sectors especially in security, some security personnels including the Army, Police, NSDC and Local vigilante are still accessories to these men of underworld, sadly made the fight against insecurities tough.

Additionally, the government if out to manage the situation should start from Secondary Schools to universities providing counseling and anticult education, task people to provide Intelligence whilt it shield the identities of whistleblowers. The security agents can still initiate operation code which focuses to arrest cult members, their leaders, prosecute and jail them. 

3. Sit-At-Home Enforcers: The Nibo Awka Massacre could be handwork of Sit-At-Home enforcement exercise by notorious unknown gunmen. Perhaps, struck in order to create fear and tension following the open declaration of 21st and 22nd of October 2024 two days Sit-At-Home order. The assailants shot sporadically killing 11 young men including a barber, passerby, and a vigilante member. According to reports, the gûnmen drove again to Eke Nibo and shot sporadically again causing residents to panic and scamper for safety. Recall that Nibo New Yam festival is ongoing and many people are already in their home town to grace the festival ceremony. 

For those who opined that this is a cult war as it was normally termed, since time immemorial, in most sceneries during cult wars, cult groups target only rival cult members and not killing random people including passerbys. This is a major issue that contradicts the narrative regarding to the bloody incidence. 

Practical Solution:
To address the issue, Anambra State government should:

1. Provide Counseling and Anti-Cult Education: Start from secondary schools to universities to educate youth about the dangers of cultism.

2. Encourage Intelligence Gathering: Task people to provide information while shielding whistleblowers' identities.

3. Operation Code: Security agents should initiate operations to arrest cult members and leaders, ensuring they face justice.

Pictures of the incidence (May Their Souls Rest In Peace):