Lawrence Ndubeze, Awka
Nawfia community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State has announced the suspension of its major Igbo cultural festival, Igu Aro, until further notice, citing rising insecurity and repeated gunmen attacks.
The community said the decision was taken to forestall further loss of lives, noting that “perpetrators of these evil acts are still devising further measures to cause pain to innocent residents of the town.”
In a statement signed by the traditional ruler, His Royal Highness, Igwe Daniel Ogochukwu Obelle, the monarch explained that the suspension followed wide consultations with stakeholders and the traditional council of Nawfia Kingdom.
Igwe Obelle said the decision was informed by a series of violent incidents in the community, including attacks recorded on September 9, 2024; October 5, 2024; and the most recent on December 7, 2025, which reportedly claimed the lives of four young men.
“Following the series of insecurity experienced between September 9, 2024, October 5, 2024, and the recent attack of December 7, 2025, which tragically claimed four promising young men in our community, the Igwe-in-Council and the entire people of Nawfia have suspended our most notable cultural festival, Igu Aro, for the year 2026,” he said.
According to him, the festival, initially scheduled for January 2, 2026, was suspended to allow the community mourn its slain sons and safeguard residents.
“This decision is aimed at protecting the lives and property of Nawfia residents, irrespective of tribe, ethnic or religious affiliation. The increasing gunmen attacks in my community, without any reported arrest of the perpetrators, are deeply troubling,” the monarch added.
Igwe Obelle noted that residents of the community, both at home and in the diaspora, were saddened by the situation, stressing that the persistent insecurity without arrests had eroded public confidence.
“We have experienced this insecurity since September 9, 2024, to date, without any arrest of the perpetrators. This is worrisome, but we are doing our best to restore confidence among our people,” he said.
He disclosed that the community was working closely with the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) to ensure that those responsible for the attacks are brought to justice.
While commending Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo for his efforts across various sectors, including security, the monarch said more needed to be done at the grassroots level.
“The governor has done tremendously well in many sectors, including security, but there are still gaps that need to be filled at the grassroots to address this sleepless situation,” he said.
He also called for a comprehensive overhaul of the state-owned security outfits, Agunechemba and Udogachi, urging the government to recruit competent personnel, pay living wages, provide proper training and equipment, and enforce discipline.
“With these measures in place, I believe the issue of insecurity in Nawfia and indeed the entire Anambra State will become a thing of the past,” the monarch concluded.
