The Anambra State House of Assembly on Thursday passed into law the Anambra State Homeland Security Bills 2025.
The bill provides for a law to maintain internal security and order in the state and to establish the Anambra State “Agunechemba” and related matters.
This is the first of its kind in the fight against insecurity.
Recall that since 2021, following the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Nnamdi Kanu, and the establishment of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), insecurity in the southeast, particularly in Anambra State, has intensified.
The ESN has been accused of involvement in abductions, killings, and communal clashes, alongside enforcing a controversial Monday sit-at-home directive across the region.
The State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, had earlier condemned criminal activities and pledged to address rising insecurity in the state by accusing self-acclaimed Biafran agitators of engaging in “lucrative criminality” such as armed robbery, cultism, kidnapping, and idolatry for ransom.
Governor Soludo made these remarks during a press briefing on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia, Awka, where he emphasized that criminals using the guise of a liberation struggle are exacerbating insecurity in the region.
Soludo highlighted the state government’s commitment to combating criminal elements and ensuring the safety and prosperity of Anambra residents.
He revealed that significant progress had been made in reclaiming eight local government areas previously under siege by criminals.
He said, “99 per cent of the criminals arrested in the state in the last two years are Igbo, and over 70 per cent are non-indigenes of Anambra.” He added that they flocked to Anambra because of the large ransoms paid there.
“I call on criminal elements to embrace the amnesty offered by the state government, as the state is deepening its use of technology to track criminals.
“Today marks the 33rd month of our assumption of office, and it is quite appropriate that we address you today regarding the security situation in Anambra. Despite the unique challenges posed by self-acclaimed liberators and agitators, we are determined to tackle criminality and ensure Anambra is safe, livable, and prosperous for the people.
“When we assumed office, eight LGAs were in the hands of criminal elements, with insecurity posing a significant challenge to the extent that we could not even campaign during the governorship election.
“Even one of the governorship candidates was kidnapped during the electioneering campaign and has not been seen till today.
“Within 12 months, we recovered those eight LGAs from the criminal elements. However, we have noticed that these criminal elements have returned.
“As a government, we value every life as sacred and will ensure that no life continues to be wasted. This time, we will triple our efforts, employing both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches.
“We are dealing with four major challenges: kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, tourism, and idolatry. Our security agencies are confronting these crimes in various ways, but we will double our efforts. Drugs are another epidemic in the state; everywhere you look in Anambra, they are being sold like groundnuts.”
The governor revealed that after January 25, the state will launch a special security initiative named “Operation Udo ga chi” (Operation Peace Shall Reign), involving 163 branded vehicles deployed across the state for stop-and-search operations to ensure no stone is left unturned in ridding the state of criminals.
Soludo said, “Ideally, some may consider this outdated, but given the type of criminal activities occurring in this region, everything must be thrown into the ring. Our security personnel will be backed by state-owned security technology to ensure they do not use it to extort people.
“We are also training forest guards to safeguard our forests in collaboration with our local vigilantes and local government authorities.
“We have extended an amnesty to these criminals to surrender themselves, and this window will remain open until the end of February.”
Governor Soludo’s pledge to triple efforts in addressing security challenges and his call for a mass mobilization of Anambra residents against insecurity reflect his administration’s unwavering commitment to ensuring a safe, livable, and prosperous environment for all citizens.