Residents of Rivers State are raising urgent concerns over worsening insecurity following reports that heavily armed groups have taken control of forested areas in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
Community leaders say the situation has escalated into a full-blown security crisis, with increasing cases of killings and kidnappings leaving residents in constant fear.
Speaking at a press conference, the President-General of the Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, Godspower Onuekwa, condemned what he described as the “illegal occupation” of forests across several communities, including Igbo, Igurita, Omagwa, and Omademe.
According to him, the armed groups;allegedly numbering over 200; are operating with sophisticated weapons and have launched repeated attacks on residents.
“These bandits have made life unbearable for our people,” Onuekwa said, accusing security agencies of failing to respond adequately to the growing threat.
He cited a recent attack on April 8, 2026, when gunmen reportedly stormed the Igbo community, abducting a couple during a violent raid.
Efforts by local vigilante groups to repel the attackers were unsuccessful, as the assailants reportedly overpowered them with superior firepower. During the attack, the head of the vigilante group, identified as Mr. Collins, was also abducted.
Community leaders warn that local security structures have been overwhelmed by the scale and coordination of the attacks.
Onuekwa noted that the affected communities are of strategic importance, as they host the Port Harcourt International Airport, raising concerns about broader security implications for the region.
The community leader called on both the federal government and the Rivers State Government to urgently deploy security forces to reclaim the occupied forests and restore normalcy.
The development highlights growing security challenges in parts of southern Nigeria, with residents increasingly demanding decisive intervention to halt the spread of violence and protect lives and property.
