By Enyinnaya Appolos

Not too long ago, heartbreaking videos from Isseke in Ihiala LGA of Anambra State and Orsu in Imo State told a grim story of fear, violence, and abandonment. Once-thriving communities were turned into ghost towns by criminal separatist gangs who seized ancestral lands, terrorized families, and converted villages into hideouts for their bloody trade. Empty markets, deserted schools, and burnt homes captured the agony of a people forced to flee their own heritage.

Today, however, new images are emerging—not of despair, but of courage and resilience. The people of Isseke and Orsu are returning home. They are reclaiming their ancestral lands, standing up against terror, and declaring that their heritage cannot be erased by the criminality of a few. This homecoming is not only symbolic but historic. It signals the never-say-die spirit of Ndigbo. It shows that dark nights are giving way to dawn—that a battered people have chosen not to surrender but to rebuild.

This development deserves thunderous commendation. I salute the people of Orsu and Isseke for their bravery and determination to restore peace and security in their homeland.

Yet, beyond celebration lies an urgent moral duty. Where are the loud voices that once condemned insecurity when it ravaged Ala Igbo? Where are the political leaders who never missed an opportunity to lament? Where are the community chiefs, religious leaders, youth activists, journalists, bloggers, and members of the diaspora who filled social media with tales of terror and despair? Now is the time for true leadership—not in lamentation, but in recognition, encouragement, and celebration. Unless, of course, some were merely grandstanding and playing politics with our pain.

We must not only speak when our land is bleeding; we must also speak when healing begins. Leadership is not just about pointing out what is wrong—it is also about affirming what is right. By commending this progress, leaders at home and abroad will encourage these returning communities and send a clear message that Ala Igbo celebrates courage, unity, and resilience.

To our diaspora community: your voices are powerful. You amplified insecurity back home, often painting Ala Igbo in the darkest colors. Now, use that same energy to amplify the good news—that our people are returning, our communities are rebuilding, and the war waged by criminal separatist gangs is fading. Balance the narrative. Give hope, not only despair.

To the federal and state governments: much is expected. While the efforts of security agencies and vigilante groups must be commended, government must ensure sustained peacekeeping presence and, most importantly, meaningful support for returning villagers who are starting life afresh.

As schools reopen, this support must go beyond regular teaching. Specially trained teachers, counselors, and psychologists should be deployed to help redirect and rehabilitate students. These children have seen horrors—burnt homes, killings, displacement, silence of ghost towns. Their scars are real. Without intervention, trauma may fester into adulthood. Trauma-informed education, resilience-building programs, and counseling will help them process their experiences, regain confidence, and rediscover joy in learning and community life. Restoring their education is also securing the future of the community.

Furthermore, healing communities requires structured rehabilitation:

• Roads must be rebuilt.
• Markets revived.
• Schools renovated.
• Health centers equipped.
• Farmlands supported with agricultural programs.

Government and private stakeholders should also drive empowerment initiatives—microcredit schemes, skills centers, and youth employment projects—to restore livelihoods and keep young people engaged. Without economic restoration, peace will remain fragile. Security, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities must converge for Orsu and Isseke to fully rise from the ashes of insecurity.

The courage of Orsu and Isseke should be a rallying cry for all of Ala Igbo. If communities once overrun and silenced can rise again, then no part of our homeland is beyond redemption. But they cannot walk this road alone. They need our leaders to speak, to commend, to encourage, and to stand with them.

May Ala Igbo experience lasting peace and security. Odoemela (Ozoemena)!