*Launches Operation Udo Ga Achi, says he’s ready to declare war to free state
David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, yesterday launched a new security operation in the state to curb the spate of kidnappings, killings, car snatching, and other crimes, promising a N5million reward to any whistleblower, who will provide information that will lead to the arrest of any kidnapper.
The governor, who launched the operation codenamed: Operation Udo Ga Achi, which means ‘peace shall reign,’ also unveiled the state’s new security agency; Agunechemba, which he said comprised over 2,000 operatives drawn from the various security agencies.
Soludo also disbursed about 200 vehicles to various security agencies to strengthen their operations.
They included Sienna Vehicles and Hilux trucks.
While launching the operation at the International Convention Centre in Awka, the governor said: “We have come to launch an operation that will secure us. First was the passage of the Anambra Homeland Security Laws, which was done just two days ago; the bill has been passed into law and has become operational.
“I want to assure you that despite the lucrative criminality, and its attendant fetish practices, we pledge to fight criminality and make Anambra the safest state in the country.
“Kidnapping is not new; my father had been kidnapped as far back as 2009; GU Okeke, Pokobros, and many others have fallen victims too. Before I assumed office, about eight local government areas were being controlled by gunmen. They killed policemen and collected guns, attacked and burnt down police stations, and went into the bush to label themselves liberators.
“We came in and went to work and cleared them and we recovered the eight local government areas that were under siege. These gangs claim to be Biafra freedom fighters. IPOB has dissociated itself from it, but one Simon Ekpa has continued kidnapping for ransom.
“Kidnapping for ransom is now the most lucrative enterprise, even more lucrative than drugs and oil. For every one naira reported as payment for ransom, five to six naira was not reported. With a culture that celebrates wealth without craft, even the kidnappers amongst us are now celebrated. Idolatry, which these criminals have converted to has become the fastest-growing religion in the South-east. Nothing is sacred to them anymore.
“We are coming for them. We promise to pay whistleblowers who give information that can lead to the arrest of kidnappers in the state. We will review the extent of the usefulness of the information, and whistleblowers can get as much as a N5million,” Soludo said.
The governor regretted that people had initially linked the criminals to the Biafra struggle, while many others who watched events shortly before the 2021 governorship election attributed it to politics.
He said the criminalities have nothing to do with politics or even the Biafra struggle, but a money-making enterprise.
He added that security agencies are doing their best in the state, and he will ensure that they function properly by providing logistical support for a full war against the criminals.
“Security forces are doing their best to combat these, but we need to strengthen them with logistical capability, social reengineering, and citizen support. We can’t defeat this warped system with guns alone; so, we are deploring the kinetic and non-kinetic approach to it.
“We unveiled 200 vehicles and we will acquire more. Agunechemba will have over 2,000 personnel. We have acquired a tracking system and we will deploy surveillance cameras to monitor communities. We will rebuild 28 divisional police stations that were burnt down by hoodlums.”
He identified communities such as Lilu, Mbosi, and Isseke as communities that have become very well-known for the criminalities and activities of gunmen.
He said: “Tell them we are coming; even if it means declaring the area a war zone; just tell them we are coming. We are also making war plans and we will unleash war on them. We are now ready to fight, they will give way and they will do so finally.”
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