IHIALA, Nigeria – Kingsley Obi, the Transition Committee chairman of Ihiala Local Government Area in Anambra, Nigeria, has disclosed that he conducts the council’s activities from underneath trees inside the secretariat complex.
This unconventional setting comes after armed attackers severely damaged the council secretariat in January 2023.
Ihiala is among the local government areas in Anambra that have been ravaged by violence perpetrated by individuals commonly termed as “unknown gunmen”.
During the assault on the secretariat, several security officers, including members of local vigilance groups, were killed.
Speaking to journalists in Awka on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, the council chairman recounted how the attackers decimated the council secretariat, leaving 14 buildings in ruins.
It was proposed that the chairman relocate the operations to a nearby secretariat in Ekwusigo Local Government Area.
However, Kingsley Obi chose to remain within the precincts of the Ihiala council secretariat, conducting official business under trees.
Despite the challenges, Obi expressed his gratitude to Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo for his prompt intervention in initiating the reconstruction of the damaged structures.
The chairman stated, “Ihiala Local Government Secretariat was attacked on 12th January 2023, by hoodlums, and about 14 buildings were burnt down completely. But today we are almost rounding off the reconstruction of the local government secretariat. Hopefully, in the next two months, everything will return to normalcy again.”
He further added that approximately 20 laborers are working around the clock, including Sundays, to ensure the timely completion of the reconstruction.
Kingsley Obi also addressed the issue of insecurity in the area, attributing some challenges to internal sabotage.
However, he reported that security has improved, with no recent attacks recorded in the past two months.
This situation reflects the dire circumstances faced by local governments in parts of Nigeria due to violence and insecurity, and the resilience of local leaders like Kingsley Obi in continuing to serve their communities despite the obstacles.
