Amnesty International Raises Alarm Over Reign of Terror in Agwa Community, Imo State

Reported by: Ime Richard Aondofa | Edited by: Henry Owen

A new report by Amnesty International Nigeria has shed light on the horrific violence and climate of fear gripping the Agwa community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, where gunmen have carried out brutal killings, decapitations, and mass displacement since 2022.

According to the report, Agwa’s once-thriving economy, built around the popular Ogbo-Afo market, has been crippled by persistent insecurity. Residents told Amnesty International that the gunmen routinely kill individuals, decapitate them, and place their severed heads in the market as a gruesome warning to others and a display of control.

The international human rights organization described Agwa as “a ghost town,” noting that most residents, particularly men and young boys, have fled to neighboring areas for safety.
A survivor who fled to Owerri told Amnesty International that “about 70% of the men and young boys have left Agwa for fear of being killed.” Those who remain reportedly live in constant fear, avoiding their homes at night to evade attacks.

“Once it is close to 6 p.m., young people will look for hiding places to sleep. They can no longer sleep in their homes for fear of being attacked at night,” one displaced resident recounted.

Amnesty International’s findings also revealed that the gunmen have targeted prominent members of the community to eliminate resistance and consolidate their reign of terror. Among the victims was Mr. Chris Kpatuma, a retired senior police officer and lawyer from Mgbala Agwa, who had been working to curb the criminals’ influence in the area.

On February 1, 2022, Kpatuma visited his hometown to offer pro bono legal assistance to a woman whose son had been killed by cultists. He reportedly decided to spend the night at his country home after the legal session ended late.

According to the report, he was abducted that night, shot in the leg to immobilize him, and taken on a motorbike into the bush, where he was brutally decapitated. His lifeless body was later dumped in front of his compound as a chilling message to others.

Amnesty International described the murder as “a targeted killing meant to silence voices of resistance” and emphasized that the security situation in Agwa reflects the deepening breakdown of law and order in parts of Imo State.

The organization called on both state and federal authorities to take immediate action to restore security, protect civilians, and ensure accountability for perpetrators of these heinous crimes.

“Communities like Agwa have been abandoned to violent gangs. Authorities must act now to end impunity, protect lives, and bring justice to victims,” Amnesty International Nigeria said.

The report underscores a broader trend of insecurity across Nigeria’s Southeast, where armed groups, cult gangs, and vigilante networks have increasingly clashed, leaving communities trapped between violence and silence.

For residents of Agwa, the message from Amnesty International is clear: until justice is served, fear and displacement will continue to define daily life in what was once a vibrant rural community.

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