Unknown Gunmen Set Ablaze Senator Ibezim’s Home, NOUN Study Centre in Imo State

On Monday night, a group of armed men launched an attack in Imo State, setting ablaze the country home of Senator Frank Ibezim and the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Study Centre located in Nsu, Ehime Mbano Local Government Area. The incident has caused widespread concern in the region, particularly due to the involvement of two prominent structures.

A video circulating on social media shows Senator Ibezim’s house engulfed in flames, with a voice in the background expressing deep sorrow over the extent of the destruction. Senator Ibezim, who previously represented Imo North (Okigwe Zone) in the National Assembly, hails from Nsu.

The spokesperson for the Imo State Police, Henry Okoye, confirmed the attack but cautioned against making inflammatory statements about the situation. He also mentioned that the NOUN Study Centre in Nsu was among the properties targeted by the gunmen.

Senator Ibezim had recently come under scrutiny following allegations that he was involved in attracting a refugee and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp for Fulani communities to the NOUN campus in Nsu. Ibezim had strongly denied these claims, clarifying in a statement that there were no plans to resettle refugees at the facility.

In a public statement, Ibezim explained that his visit to the NOUN Nsu Study Centre, alongside federal officials, was solely for assessing the potential of the site for skill development programs. He emphasized that the institution is a federal educational facility open to all Nigerians and that the visit aimed to explore the possibility of using existing infrastructure for training purposes. Ibezim reiterated that the claims of refugee settlement were false and stemmed from a misunderstanding.

“The agency is not seeking to resettle or relocate any refugees,” Ibezim clarified. “They aim to use the existing facilities to train eligible individuals from time to time.”

He urged citizens to avoid misinformation and focus on the benefits of government collaboration to develop opportunities for the youth in the region. Despite the attack, Ibezim reaffirmed his commitment to supporting development initiatives in the South East and stressed that the situation should not hinder ongoing efforts to improve local infrastructure and services.