Enugu’s Insecurity Crisis And The Dangerous Culture of Denial

The escalating wave of violence, kidnapping, and criminality across Enugu State has laid bare a disturbing reality; the government is either overwhelmed, indifferent, or deliberately choosing silence over accountability.

Daily, residents of Enugu State are subjected to kidnappings, armed robbery, violent attacks, and murder, while the government continues to engage in what can only be described as media manipulation and narrative whitewashing.

The recent heinous attack by suspected armed herdsmen on the residence of the highly decorated and loved serving Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), Frank Mba, in Udenu Local Government Area is one of such ugly insecurity.

The attackers stormed the area, causing panic and inflicting terror on locals, an incident that should have served as a red alert.

But what did the Enugu State Government do? – Barely a whisper, no urgency, no clear response, no honest communication with the public.

The same pattern of denial and suppression played out once again.

Attacking a prominent and cherished law enforcement figure’s home emphasizes that no one is safe, regardless of their status.

Also on Friday, September 19, 2025, a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, the Rev. Fr. Matthew Eya, was shot dead on Alumona- Eha Ndiagu road in Nsukka Local Government Area.

There has been enormous pressure on the Enugu State Governor to take accountability and reevaluate its security strategies.

It highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive response to restore order and address the underlying causes of these violence.

These incidents draw attention to the broader issues of insecurity in Enugu State, prompting discussions about the need for effective governance, community safety, and the protection of citizens.

For the records, Governor Peter Mbah, came into office promising progress, peace, and security.

However, reports from communities in Uzo Uwani, Isi-Uzo, Igbo-Eze North, and other rural areas indicate that residents live under siege, with roads turned into danger zones, and farmlands abandoned due to fear of being kidnapped or killed.

Rather than confront the crisis head-on, the state government has resorted to media spin, downplaying the severity of incidents, discrediting viral reports, or outright denying they occurred even when victims speak out and families mourn their dead.

The government’s refusal to admit the scale of the problem has only emboldened criminal elements.

When people in power pretend there is no fire, they let it burn unchecked.

Communities are left to rely on self-help, vigilante justice, or prayer while the administration clings to a facade of peace for the sake of optics.

There is a moral and constitutional duty on the part of the state government to protect lives and property.

That duty is not being fulfilled.

Security is not a press release or a polished media interview. It is action, it is strategy, it is results.

The people of Enugu State deserve better than staged narratives and official silence while blood is spilled in villages and on highways.

Unless the Enugu State Government wakes up to the truth and takes drastic, transparent, and accountable action, the crisis will only deepen.

It is time for the government to stop downplaying insecurity in the state – it is time for action.