NTUEKE, IMO STATE – Violence erupted in Ideato South Local Government Area on Monday as security operatives forcibly disrupted a scheduled gathering organized for Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, the member representing Ideato North/South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
The event, held at the premises of Christ Anglican Church in Ntueke, was reportedly descended upon by armed security agents and unidentified individuals described by witnesses as political thugs. According to eyewitness accounts and local organizers, the security personnel deployed tear gas and fired live ammunition to disperse the crowd of constituents.
Casualties and Damage
Reports from the scene indicate that at least six individuals sustained gunshot wounds and various degrees of injury during the melee. Beyond the physical casualties, significant property damage was reported, with sound systems, canopies, and other event equipment allegedly destroyed by the raiding party.
Allegations of State Interference
In a statement following the incident, organizers alleged that the security agents—reportedly dispatched from Owerri—were acting under direct instructions from the Imo State Government to scuttle the lawmaker’s civic engagement. This incident follows a similar pattern of friction; in December 2025, a civic reception planned for Hon. Ugochinyere was also blocked by police forces citing “security concerns.”
Hon. Ugochinyere, a vocal critic of the state administration, has frequently clashed with state authorities over the years. His supporters have denounced the latest disruption as an assault on democracy and the right of constituents to engage with their elected representative.
Defiance Amid Tension
Despite the heavy security presence and the destruction of the venue, representatives for the lawmaker stated that the community remains resolute. “We will hold the rally at all costs to honor a messenger who we freely elected,” one local leader remarked, signaling that the political standoff in Ideato is far from over..
As of Tuesday morning, the Imo State Police Command and the state government have not issued a formal rebuttal to the allegations regarding their involvement in the disruption.
