The atmosphere in Imo State has shifted from apprehension to absolute tranquility. This past festive season served as a powerful testament to a state reborn. The Christmas and New Year celebrations witnessed total peace and zero incidents of violence. From the bustling streets of Owerri to the remotest villages, the sounds of joy reverberated.

To be clear, Governor Hope Uzodimma has steered the state toward a historic turning point. Owerri has reclaimed its title as the “Jerusalem of the Igbo people,” a vision first cast by Prof. Adiele Afigbo in 1979. Visitors and returnees were greeted by a landscape they barely recognized. Rebuilt road networks now connect the people, while a new waterfront resort park and an international conference center signal a rising economic giant.

This era of peace is not a stroke of luck or a happy accident. It is the result of Governor Uzodimma’s deliberate, consistent actions and an unrepentant refusal to yield to the forces of disorder.

Infrastructure development has marched hand-in-hand with security, creating a fertile ground where investment meets opportunity. The government has fortified the state’s security architecture, ensuring that every citizen feels the embrace of safety.

To seal this victory, Governor Uzodimma, yesterday, officially launched the Imo Vigilante Organization. This initiative is a masterstroke of endogenous, community-based security. It places the power back into the hands of the people themselves. By empowering the grassroots, the state is ensuring that security is no longer just a government mandate, but a collective responsibility.

The patriotic men and women of this Organization are not mere volunteers; they are highly trained youth experts. These officers have undergone world-class training to master the art of intelligence gathering and crime detection. They serve as the eyes and ears of their communities, bridging the gap between the people and national security agencies. Their presence ensures that no corner of Imo State will ever be described as unsafe again.

The Governor’s message is clear: the peace we have won must be defended every single day. Crime often hides in plain sight, living within the very fabric of society. By equipping local officers with the skills to detect these threats early, the state is taking a proactive stance against darkness. This is a bottom-up revolution designed to protect the lives, property, and future of every Imo indigene.

This model of community-centered policing mirrors the world’s most successful security frameworks. From the neighborhood watch programs of the United Kingdom to the hyper-local safety networks in Singapore, the lesson is universal: safety is strongest when the people own it. By embedding security within the community, Imo is adopting a gold standard that turns every street corner into a fortress of vigilance.

Furthermore, this strategy recognizes that true security is the bedrock of economic prosperity. In places like Rwanda, the marriage of local security and massive infrastructure investment transformed a nation into a global hub. Imo State is walking that same path of glory. When the roads are smooth and the nights are safe, businesses flourish and the dreams of the youth take root.

To sustain this momentum, the Governor is guaranteeing the “Three Pillars of Prosperity”: world-class roads, a stable digital economy, and reliable power. With the launch of the Light Up Imo project and the activation of the Egbema Power Station, the era of generator economy is coming to an end. Stable electricity will breathe life into local industries, making Imo a 24-hour economy where production never sleeps.

The potential of a safe Imo is limitless. Imagine a state where the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport operates at full capacity, backed by a secure Orashi Energy Free Trade Zone. This is the new Imo State: a place where the $1.4 trillion 2026 Budget of Economic Breakthrough is building a bridge to the future. With security as the foundation, the vision of a modernized, industrialized heartland is no longer a dream; it is an unfolding reality.

Imo State is no longer a land of uncertainty, but a beacon of hope and stability. The vision of a safe, stable, and business-friendly environment is now a living reality. With the launch of the Vigilante Organization, the state has built a fortress of peace that will endure for generations. A new Imo is on the rise!

– Collins Opurozor
Special Adviser to the Governor on Electronic & Creative Media

The people of Amaigbo in Nwangele Local Government Area of Imo State have expressed overwhelming joy following the successful take-off of the newly established Azione Verde University, an institution that has already gained international recognition for its innovative academic standards.

The historic inauguration held on 2nd January 2026, which attracted traditional rulers, education stakeholders, community leaders, youth groups, and guests from within and outside the state, as well as the diaspora, marked a new chapter in the educational development of not just Imo state but the South East region, having its management team and workforce globally rooted in the educational sector.

Speaking at the event, the Papal Nuncio to Ethiopia, Archbishop Brian Udaigwe expressed appreciation to the Founder for his insights as well as indigenes of Amaigbo for providing their lands among other resources for the university’s use while charging them to be brave and not relent in their efforts to start a new thing for a better life, noting that the greatest mistake is the fear of making a mistake as well as not taking a step at all.

Archbishop Udaigwe further charged them to be courageous to start a new thing, as well as work with discipline.

The Papal Nuncio also thanked the foreign partners for their unalloyed love and dedication to the works and projects of Azione Verde University, while calling for more partnership in the locality.

“I wish and pray that this university continue to grow and provide holistic education”, He said.

In his address, the Founder and Chancellor of Azione Verde University, Amaigbo, Rev. Father Boniface Duru, described the institution as a centre of excellence built to provide holistic and world-class education while empowering young people with skills relevant to global demands, noting that education must consist first of the mind and the human person.

“The University is not just a building but a centre for the development of the mind. Education is the bed of development because you cannot talk about development without education.

“Our goal is to produce graduates who will compete favourably anywhere in the world, while remaining rooted in values that promote sustainable development and community service.

The President General of Amaigbo Community, Chief Sir Fyne Madumere, lauded the initiative, stating that the institution will boost economic activities, create employment opportunities, and place Amaigbo on the global academic map, noting that the university is not just for Amaigbo people, but a big gift to Imo State and Nigeria at large.

Sir Fyne Madumere

Chief Madumere, however, seized the opportunity to call on the state government to come to their rescue urgently and reconstruct and repair their roads, especially as they connect to the University.

“Our appeal is for the government to come to our aid; tar the road, build drainage, and make it passable because in the next one year, we will have over One Thousand people who are schooling here and there will be a need for the President and Governor of Imo state to be visiting from time to time.

“So we continue to appeal to the government because I know our amiable Governor Hope Uzodimma is ever responsive to the yearnings of his people, so we are appealing to him to come to our aid”, Sir Fyne Madumere added.

The Chairman of the Occasion and indigene of the area, Chief Mike Onuoha (Eriri Ego) who emphasized the social and economic impact of the institution in the locality, expressed optimism that the University will provide quality education as well as first-hand research on applied education while empowering individuals and transforming populations.

Chief Mike Onuoha

Chief Eririego further noted that Azione Verde University will offer increased access to higher education, enhanced learning within the state and employment for the community.

“The benefit of having this university is that the university will create jobs that will attract investment and stimulate new businesses.

“It will also provide access to quality education. It will bring about a movement in the markets and Partnerships will build out of this”, Chief Eriri-Ego noted.

Community leaders and youths also commended the management for choosing Amaigbo as the host community, promising to provide a peaceful and supportive environment among other things for the growth of the institution; even as they made cash donations to the management.

The Institution’s Communications Manager, Andrew…. highlighted the university’s academic focus areas which include environmental sustainability, digital technology, agriculture, entrepreneurship, health sciences, and renewable energy studies.

The Institution’s Communications Manager, Andrew…. highlighted the university’s academic focus areas which include environmental sustainability, digital technology, agriculture, entrepreneurship, health sciences, and renewable energy studies.

The Communications Manager urged indigenes to always protect and support the institution as their very own, stressing that with modern facilities, international collaborations, and a strong commitment to research and innovation, Azione Verde University is poised to become one of Nigeria’s leading private universities in the coming years.

“I advise the community to protect this place because all the Italians and foreigners here are trying to build something new and give a future to the students”, Mr Andrew called.

Residents who could not contain their joy, expressed confidence that the establishment of the university will significantly improve infrastructure development, stimulate the local economy, and inspire a new generation of scholars in the region.

They said Amaigbo stands proudly as a new hub of higher learning in Imo State, as the first set of students begins academic activities.

Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Aina Adesola, has ordered the immediate removal of the Jesse Divisional Police Officer in Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state over allegations of extortion.

The DPO reportedly committed the offence in collaboration with two junior officers identified as Bright and Usman.

A statement issued on Friday by spokesman, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed that the Command was alerted to the alleged crime through “a viral video recording” by a woman.

“The aggrieved woman alleged that one officer Bright, officer Usman and the DPO Jesse extorted from her the sum of N2,500,000 with the hope that her brother, who is presently in custody, would be released.

“After a careful examination of the video clip, the Command wishes to state as follows: On January 1, 2026, the youth leader of Jesse community arrested some suspects and brought them to the police station.

“Among the suspects was the narrator’s younger brother, later identified as Israel Onojeruo, aged 20 years,” the statement partly read.