South-East: Insecurity takes a break during Christmas, New Year festivities

• Residents, returnees hail security measures as police vow to sustain efforts

By Jude Chinedu (Enugu); Obinna Odogwu (Awka); Stanley Uzoaru (Owerri); Okey Sampson (Umuahia)

Despite the negative influence of social media, and reported cases of violent crimes that heightens fear of insecurity in the South-East, there was a massive return of indigenous people to the region for Christmas and New Year celebrations. Across the states, many events took place, making the season a memorable one in recent years.

Enugu

Enugu State was largely peaceful during the festive season with residents and returnees experiencing calm atmosphere across communities.

Recreational centres, villages and relaxation spots came alive as families, friends and visitors took advantage of the holiday period.

There was, as at the time of filing this report, no case of violent crime against residents and returnees during the celebrations. Our correspondent reports that tension raised by previous reports of insecurity was overshadowed by celebrations across the state.

Chinonso Nnamani, a Lagos-based trader who hails from Obinagu village in Nike, Enugu East Local Government Area, said he almost cancelled his trip due to security concerns.

“I am excited to be home. I came back December 23rd and I have enjoyed every minute I’ve spent since then. Yes, the issue of insecurity was a factor. I almost did not come back, but my friend convinced me.

“I don’t regret it at all. We did not have any issues on the way, and there is no security challenge here in the village,” he told Sunday Sun.

Another returnee, Gabriel Ochi, said while he understood why some people might be afraid, his experience had been positive.

“I don’t blame people who were afraid to come home. The reports are scary, but it is different from reality. I don’t think anything can make me not come home for Christmas. It has been peaceful so far and I am enjoying it,” he said.

Those who returned from abroad shared similar experiences. It was particularly emotional for Magreth Egbo, who returned from Canada with her family. She described her experience as memorable and reassuring.

“It is the first time we are returning home since we travelled 11 years ago. The experience has been tremendous. My husband, my children and everyone in the family have been enjoying the atmosphere,” she said.

Egbo commended the state government for what she described as a calm and welcoming environment.

“I think the state government deserves kudos for the peaceful atmosphere we are seeing. Most important is that we have not faced any threat whatsoever. We are safe. Enugu feels safe.”

Community leaders have also noted the high turnout of indigenes during the festive season, describing it as a reflection of people’s attachment to home despite security concerns.

Ozor Anike, a native of Umuchigbo community, Enugu East Local Government Area, said the Christmas period remains a major time for reunions and cultural activities.

“You know that this period is when we have most of our festivities. So nothing will make our people not come home. My people returned in their numbers and we are having the best of celebration,” he said.

He added that the peaceful atmosphere had encouraged social events and family gatherings across the community.

While residents continue to call for sustained security efforts, many say the calm recorded during the Christmas celebrations has helped restore confidence and normalcy across Enugu communities.

As the festive season continues, residents and visitors alike express hope that peace will be sustained beyond the holiday period, allowing social and economic activities to thrive across the state.

Anambra

In Anambra, the 2025 Christmas celebrations were very exciting and peaceful. Across the length and breadth of the state, various activities took place just as the celebrations will continue in the weeks to come.

From traditional marriage ceremonies to cultural events, football tournaments to kindred meetings, communities in the state have been boisterous with so many exciting events.

There was also the inauguration of new projects executed through communal efforts, launching for commencement of new ones and on-going projects in various communities across the state.

For example, members of the Old Boys Association of the Archbishop Heerey Technical College, Ogidi in Idemmili North Local Government Area of Anambra State inaugurated a multi-million naira multi-purpose hall they built in the school on December 30, 2025.

From all walks of life, they stormed the school for the official opening and handover of the edifice to the Catholic Bishop of Onitsha Diocese, Archbishop Valerian Okeke, for onward handover to the school management.

Chairman of the building project implementation technical committee, Chief Chris Onwudiwe, told the reporter that he returned to the community before the Christmas Day to ensure that everything was put in place before the inauguration day and that he visited the project site daily.

He disclosed that the project, which was conceived in 2020, cost the association over N200 million from start to finish.

President of the association, Dr. Okechukwu Okafor, who returned to the state for Christmas celebrations and for that purpose, also told the reporter that the association had executed so many projects in the school before now.

“The fencing of the school premises; roofing dilapidated classrooms and laboratory; installation of burglary proofs in the principal and bursar’s offices; as well as employment and payment of salaries of two security personnel,” Okafor said.

On the same December 30, Anambra State Government hosted a music carnival at Solution Fun City to mark the 2025 Christmas Celebrations themed ‘Ọnwa Dezemba’. It was a kind of homecoming for the Afrobeat legend, Flavour.

Apart from the top music star, there were also scores of other notable musicians who performed at the event which was attended by many people in the state, including those who returned home for Christmas celebrations.

Wife of the state governor, Mrs. Nonye Soludo, who attended the event, described it as super epic.

“It was hours of limitless fun for thousands of people who trooped out to experience Anambra’s unique vibe. Of course, Ijele Africa was around to raise the roof with some spice.

“Flavour’s homecoming was everything a concert truly deserves. Ijele lived up to the party. And, we ain’t even done yet. You should really come back home and experience a new Anambra State,” Mrs. Soludo said.

On December 27, Chief Ikenna Okafor, a business mogul, organised an event where he gave scholarships to many indigenes of his Akwaeze community in Anaocha LGA in honour of his father.

That day, free healthcare services were rendered to the residents of the community, ranging from various health checks to distribution of free eyeglasses to those in need of them, among others.

Similar events took place across the length and breadth of the state. There were also those who simply invited their community people to their homes and distributed bags of rice and other food items as part of their many Christmas gifts to them.

Major and minor roads across the state have been very busy since the beginning of the festivities with pockets of gridlock, an indication that more vehicles arrived in the state as Christmas celebrations began.

Abia

In Abia State, Christmas and New Year celebrations went on in a peaceful and cordial atmosphere.

The relative peace experienced this season could be attributed to the security measures put in place by the state government.

When the present administration came on board, Abia was among the states where insecurity was adjudged to be on the high side especially along the Lokpanta/Uturu axis.

To tackle the problem, Governor Alex Otti came up with measures, including the setting up of Operation Crush, the state’s security outfit.

The security outfit had its initial challenges, but with time, it was able to overcome that and has since brought the situation under control.

The security outfit in collaboration with other security agencies were able to provide round the clock coverage of the state, making Abia a difficult place for criminal elements to operate.

Part of the security measures introduced in the state is that it is mandatory that every community should have a vigilante group which works in synergy with the police to provide security for people residing in such communities.

With adequate security in place, communities in the state were involved in one annual event or the other this Yuletide period without any form of attack by hoodlums.

At Item, in Bende Local Government Area for instance, the people embarked on various activities, including the Ime Uche ceremony without any atom of fear.

Kalu Onuoha, a Lagos resident who returned to his home town of Okoko Item and took part in the ceremony, expressed joy at the level of security in place in his area.

“I must tell you that I came back because we were told that Abia is now peaceful. I came back and have confirmed that. In previous years, I couldn’t come back no matter what was happening in the village, because of insecurity.

“I must commend the present administration in the state for doing a good job in the state, in this direction.”

In other communities in Bende Local Government Area, including Umuhu Ezechi and Igbere, there was relative peace. People in those communities who came home from different parts of the world for the Yuletide had a peaceful stay.

Ndubuisi Okorie, a native of Umuhu Ezechi said this year’s Christmas celebrations were more peaceful in his community in particular and the state in general than ever before. He commended the Dr. Alex Otti administration for checkmating insecurity in the state and giving the people new hope.

“The government did a good job in providing security round the clock in the state during the Christmas and New Year period.

“While commending the government, I would like the peaceful situation to continue even after the festive period so that people’s confidence could be restored in government.”

The security in Abia was made more manifest during the visit of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Mohammadu Sanusi 11, who spent part of the Christmas period in Abia and gave kudos to Governor Otti for the good works he is doing including in the area of security.

Imo

In most parts of Imo State, there were celebrations like coronation, marriage ceremonies, town union and age grade conventions, and burial ceremonies, among others.

Lucky Onyechere, one of the returnees said he could not be deterred by reports of insecurity.  “Every day I open my phone I see reports on kidnapping especially along Aba/Owerri Road.  They said people are being kidnapped very often but I had no choice. I would have stayed back, but my younger sister is getting married.”

Another returnee, Onyemechi Lawrence from Egbeada in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of the state said his return was due largely to the annual masquerade festival in his community.

“I don’t miss the masquerade festival for anything, although I did not come home with my family but I vowed I will be there to witness this year’s celebration, insecurity or no insecurity.”

Ugochukwu Amaifele from Ndegwu in Owerri West council area told our correspondent that the community was able to motivate their people back home because of their Okorosha cultural dance festival and football league at the same time.

He said: “We know we had security challenges this year but we had to fashion out a way for our people to come back and some of the ways is to make them happy with the Okorosha dance and the community’s football league.”

It’s the same at Umuanunu in Nekede also in Owerri West. Despite a reported surge in cases of kidnapping and armed robbery over the year, the natives returned in their numbers to celebrate the yuletide.

Most communities in the state relied on their vigilantes for security. Every ceremony held had the local guards protecting their people. This greatly boosted the morale of those that returned to move around without fear.

Oluchukwu Iroegbulam, a former President General of Ndegwu Community, while lauding the efforts of the vigilantes in his community disclosed that maintaining peace and security in the area came with huge financial implications.

“Our vigilantes have been working in collaboration with the police. Their presence made some returnees from different parts of the country to be inspired to move around the villages to attend one activity or the other.”

Role of the Police

In Enugu State, Governor Peter Mbah recently launched a breathtaking project to strengthen security efforts in the state.

Similarly, the Anambra State government, earlier in December said that adequate security measures had been put in place. The state Police Command led by CP Ikioye Orutugu also assured the people of adequate security throughout the yuletide.

Orutugu said: “As we celebrate the festive season, I want to reassure residents and visitors that the Anambra State Police Command, in collaboration with sister security agencies, has intensified patrols and surveillance across the state.

“Strategic locations, worship centres, markets, highways, and recreational areas are being adequately covered to ensure a peaceful celebration.”

The police commissioner said that despite the challenges faced, the Command would remain resolute in its mandate to protect life and property.

“Through intelligence-led policing, joint operations, community engagement, and proactive patrols, we have continued to improve our security architecture.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said in a statement that operatives of the Anambra State Police Command dominated strategic locations across the state, including major roads, markets, worship centres, motor parks, and recreational areas, to ensure the safety of residents and visitors as social activities heighten during this festive period.

“In line with this, the eight Area Commanders across the state have stepped up supervisory duties to ensure proper coordination and effective deployment of personnel within their respective jurisdictions, including Onitsha, Ihiala, Oraifite, Awka, Aguata, Otuocha, Ogidi, and Nnewi.”

The Imo State Police Command under the leadership of CP Aboki Danjuma played a role in stemming the tide of insecurity in the state especially during the yuletide.

Henry Okoye, the command’s spokesman told Saturday Sun that proactive engagements, inter agency collaboration and community policing were the major factors that contributed to the taming of the criminal elements.

He disclosed that all the areas considered to be volatile were given adequate protection. Patrol vehicles were stationed at various points and in some cases the bushes were combed by the police in synergy with their sister agencies.

“Imo will always be safe because there is no hiding place for criminal elements here. You can see that the state Commissioner of Police has been leading operations with some sister agencies. We have combed so many bushes and our daily Operation Show of Force has made the people to be confident.

“We want to use this opportunity to tell those who are spending their yuletide here in the state to do so without fear of molestation. The state is adequately secured and would be sustained even after the yuletide,” Okoye assured.