The community of Logara in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area, Imo State, is reeling in grief following the tragic death of Mrs. Chinwendu Amadi, a pregnant woman who was allegedly raped and murdered near the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport (SMICA), Owerri.
The perpetrators remain unidentified, and tensions are rising as youths of the community threaten to disrupt airport operations in protest of the lack of security around the facility, an Owerri local tabloid, The Lead reports.
The Onyeaghalanwanneya Youths Movement (OYM), representing the airport’s host community, has issued an ultimatum to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), demanding immediate improvements to security
. Failure to act, they warn, will result in a full-scale protest, including the potential shutdown of the airport runway.
This comes in the wake of mounting frustration over repeated attacks on community members near the airport.
The gruesome discovery of Mrs. Amadi’s body occurred over the weekend in a bush near the airport runway.
Chief Martin Opara, president of the Logara community, revealed that the deceased, a petty trader at the airport, had closed her shop and was returning home when she was ambushed.
Violently raped and stabbed multiple times, she was left dead, her unborn child tragically lost in the attack.
Chief Opara and other community leaders believe the woman’s death may have been an attempt to cover up the attackers’ crimes.
The incident has sparked outrage, with local leaders demanding answers from the airport’s security personnel.
Chief Opara criticized the state of the airport’s facilities and its security arrangements.
He noted that despite taking over their land for the airport, the FAAN has yet to make significant improvements to the area.
According to him, the bushy premises have become a haven for criminals, further endangering the lives of residents.
Youth leaders of Ngor Okpala, led by Comrade Chukwuma Anuforo, also expressed their anger at FAAN’s negligence. They alleged that the agency has ignored repeated requests to enhance security, including employing night guards from the host community.
Anuforo lamented that the death could have been avoided if FAAN had acted on these concerns earlier.
The Youths has set a one-week deadline for FAAN to address the security lapses. They demand that night guards, drawn from the local community, be employed immediately, and that additional security measures be put in place to prevent further tragedies.
Anuforo pointed out that while Governor Hope Uzodimma has made efforts to improve the airport, including installing lighting for night flights, security remains a major issue.
In addition to demanding better security, the community is also calling for the construction of a hospital to serve the local population.
Anuforo noted that despite the revenue generated from the airport, there has been little investment in the wellbeing of the host community.
He accused FAAN of prioritizing the employment of staff from outside the area. while neglecting local workers.