Soludo and security challenges in Anambra State

Before he was sworn in as the governor of Anambra State on March 17, 2022, Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo met a state that was rife with criminal activities. Criminal elements were on the rampage with their nefarious activities, which almost turned Anambra into a state of bedlam.

The people of the state were in constant fear as armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism, touting, criminal idolation, land grabbing, drug epidemic, inter alia, took the centre stage, thus making the state quite unsafe for any meaningful development.

The state was constantly in the news for the wrong reasons. It was either armed robbery today or kidnapping tomorrow. At some point, people were scared to even travel home for the yuletide.

In order to execute the lofty plans he has for the people of the state, he knew that the insecurity in the state must be fixed. He, therefore, moved into action knowing that security, law and order remain important in the attainment of his administration’s vision of a secure and prosperous Anambra.

On January 18, 2025, the governor launched a security initiative known as ‘Udo Ga-Achi’ (peace shall prevail) with the procurement of 200 patrol vehicles, with 2000 security operatives, which were deployed across the state, especially in Awka, Nnewi, Onitsha and environs to fight these criminal elements. He followed it up with the signing of the Anambra State Homeland Security Bill 2025 into law. This law establishes Agunechemba, a structured state security outfit designed to complement and support existing law enforcement agencies in preventing crime and detecting criminal activities.

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Among other things, the law criminalises native doctors who prepare protective charms for kidnappers, or get-rich-quick charms, also known as ‘Oke Ite’. The law provides that any property found to have been used for harbouring kidnap suspects or housing kidnappers without the owner revealing the same to security agencies would be forfeited to the state government and demolished.

Some provisions of the law hold community leaders, traditional rulers, landlords and neighbours to account if they failed to disclose to the government or security agencies the identity of people who live within their vicinity, who are involved in criminal acts. Hotels and other hospitality facilities are also advised to send the identity of lodgers to the state government as a compulsory daily routine.

With coordinated efforts of these security personnel, incidents of armed robbed and kidnapping has reduced since the law came into force. Even some popular native doctors in the state have been arrested and interrogated. They are: popular millionaire native doctor from Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area, Mr. Chidozie Nwangwu, popularly known as Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki; Eke Hit, a native doctor from Okija in Ihiala Local Government Area, and Mr. Onyebuchi, and popularly known as Onye Eze Jesus.

Soludo was elected governor on November 6, 2021 and on March 17, 2022 hit the ground running in his bid to rid the state of criminal elements. For instance, Onitsha is not what it used to be some two-three years as activities of touts made it unsafe for anybody. Today, the commercial city is calm and safe for business as over 1500 touts have been arrested by the Anambra State Special Anti-Touting Squad.

According to Soludo, “As promised, we hit the ground running from the first minute after swearing-in; working for eight hours and 45 minutes on that day, starting with three and a half hours meeting on security. Since then, I go to the office every day and literally working 24/7 to make you proud.

“The last 100 days have been bumpy and challenging as expected, with insecurity and a red treasury being the most potent.

“We created a new Ministry of Homeland Affairs (for homeland security) to signal the emergency and utmost priority on homeland security. We embarked upon massive consultation, mobilization and sensitization of the citizens and critical stakeholders— including security agencies, the clergy, traditional rulers, town unions, youths, civil society organizations, businessmen and women, agitation groups, etc. We worked with South East Bishops to organize prayers; offered amnesty/carrot to repentant outlaws; etc.

“The people are united in fighting against the lucrative criminal enterprise and its idolatrous energizer which held the entire South senatorial zone plus Ogbaru local government hostage. The criminals masquerading as agitators have been exposed, and the nexus between crime, idolatry and hard drugs has become evident. The narrative is changing and the people are seizing the conversation and initiative.

“We declared zero tolerance for criminality and drug abuse, and declared war on all criminals in Anambra State. No forest, bush or house can accommodate criminals in Anambra and government is determined to do sustained battle with them. It took some years for criminality to take deep root in parts of the state and we have a longer-term perspective on sustainable solutions.

“We created a cohesive operational team with the State Security Council, and enhanced operational capabilities. We remain grateful to the various security agencies for the massive support and professionalism. We created Anambra State Vigilante Central Strike Force to complement the security forces to keep our forests and homeland free of the criminals.”

To facilitate the provision of credible information that would ultimately lead to the arrest of kidnappers or armed robbers or the discovery of their hideouts, Soludo announced a reward of up to N5 million for whistleblowers.

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“We are taking decisive action on security with the formal launching of operation ‘Udo Ga-Achi’ because we are determined to fight criminality and ensure Anambra becomes the safest state.

“We need people in the communities to give information to security agencies through our toll-free line—5111.

“For whistleblowers, anyone who gives us credible information that leads to the arrest of any kidnapper or armed robber or information that leads to the rounding up of criminals in a camp will be paid a bounty of any amount up to a maximum of N5 million (depending on the class of criminal).

“We encourage each community to design and execute its own security programme. On a monthly basis, any community with zero crime will get a reward of N10 million.”

A total of 2,000 personnel from various security agencies, including the police, the Nigerian Army, the Navy, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were deployed for the operation. Local vigilance groups, known as ‘Agunechemba,’ were also part of the operation.

Anambra state is just one out of the many states battling the upsurge of insecurity. Kidnapping has become a thriving business in the entire South East as people quickly pay the ransom for fear of losing their loved ones. Many criminal elements have transitioned from armed robbery to kidnapping because the latter is now more lucrative in nature.

In Anambra State and beyond, we have read cases of where prominent individuals were kidnapped, ransom paid and the kidnapped victim killed in the process.

A particular case that comes to mind was the kidnapping and subsequent beheading of the lawmaker representing Soludo in the state assembly, Hon. Okey Okoye. The incident sent a shock wave across the length and breadth of the state. Those behind the dastardly act wanted to use it to make a bold statement that they cannot be intimidated out of the state.

Before the signing of the Anambra State Homeland Security Bill 2025 into law, the security arrangement in the state was that the various communities were responsible for their own security. The community leaders fund their local vigilance group and it was discovered that some unscrupulous traditional rulers and community heads give information to criminals. Some of these leaders have been arrested, detained and questioned for their alleged compromise.

Beyond the South East, it has been hues and cries of insecurity as if the country is at war with itself. Innocent blood is being spilled almost on a daily basis without these bandits being apprehended.

Security has become a major challenge in Nigeria since Boko Haram reared its ugly head in 2009. What started as pockets of killings and bombings here and there has grown into a monster of a terrorist group holding an entire community to hostage.

What seems to be a fight against some radicalised group of people who don’t believe in Western education has today grown into a deadly terrorist group – ISWA – Islamic State of West Africa.

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No doubt, the country has lost billions, if not trillions of dollars, in waging war against insecurity. Lives and properties are hitherto being destroyed by these terrorists.

The criminal elements, who also go by such names as bandits, kidnappers, Fulani herdsmen etc, are gradually taking over the North and other parts of the country, wreaking untold havoc.

Back to Anambra state, it is not yet done and dusted as far as security is concerned. There are still pockets of insecurity here and there, but by and large, their activities have been drastically reduced by the combined forces of Udo Ga-Achi and Agunechemba.

Some urban towns like Onitsha, Nnewi, Awka, Ihiala and Ekwulobia considered hotbeds for criminals, are relatively calm now.

As his first term in office gradually comes to an end by March 16, 2026, Soludo will be remembered by the relative peace he brought to a state ravaged by insecurity. Some of the laudable things he achieved, such as digitisation of ANSEC Meetings – eliminating costly paperwork, improving efficiency, confidentiality, and enhancing security, as well as strengthening cybersecurity and digital Identity, are quite commendable. Even the newly built government house would not have been possible if not for the level of sanity he brought to the state.