Ahead of the Anambra governorship election billed for November 8, 2025, insecurity has once more returned to the front burner. The latest fatalities include promising Anambra businessman, Ifesinachi Onyekesi, popularly known as fishing magnet, killed in July and the Chairman of Nri Security, Rev. Mark Okonkwo, who was gunned down by assailants early in August. This is to mention but a few.
These incidents have left many people in the state wondering what happened to the widely publicised “Agunaechemba” security outfit and “Udo-Ga-Achi” security operation launched by Governor Soludo in January this year with so much fanfare. The Soludo administration claimed it took this initiative to restore peace in Anambra state, consequent upon the terrifying insecurity in the state since the inception of the administration.
At the time of the launch of the security outfit, insecurity rocked the state like volcanic eruption. Criminals operated with reckless abandon and unfettered access to nearly every part of the state, terrorising hapless residents. In fact, the general perception among residents was that the state government was visibly overwhelmed by the insecurity.
Many casualties were recorded. They include three crew members of Supersports who were killed at Iseke, a border town of Ihiala LGA of Anambra state to Orlu in Imo state and 12 persons gruesomely murdered in a deadly cult violence at Nibo, Awka South LGA. The Nibo incident happened a stone throw from the Old Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia, where Governor Soludo lived at the time the incident occurred.
Similarly, three vigilante operatives were slain at Abatete, Idemmili North LGA, while a lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Dr. Fabian Osita, was gunned down in Awka, the state capital. Equally among the casualties were a priest of Nnewi Catholic Diocese, Tobias Okonkwo, and member representing Onitsha North 1 state constituency in Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Justice Azuka. The lawmaker was kidnapped and later found dead.
The former Archbishop of Nnewi Anglican Diocese, Godwin Okpala, and his driver were lucky. They were kidnapped and later released after paying an undisclosed amount of money as ransom, so also three reverend sisters. This is to mention but a few.
Owing to the heightened insecurity in the state, residents heaved a sigh of relief when Governor Charles Soludo unveiled “Agunaechemba” and “Udo Ga Achi.” However, six months after, the euphoria that greeted the launch of the security initiative has fizzled out, even as operatives of the security outfit have become lawless, attacking brutally the people they were recruited to protect.
As of the time of writing this piece, the insecurity in Anambra state appears to have taken a turn for the worse. Painfully, rather than confront the situation with the utmost attention that it deserves, Soludo continues to look for scapegoats, his latest victims being Igbo youths who he recently accused from faraway United States of America (USA) of being behind the kidnapping in the South-east zone.
As Soludo faced serious backlash for that statement, many Igbo perceived it as reckless and diversionary attempt to profile Igbo youths as criminals, in a bid to deflect attention from the glaring failings of his administration to guarantee security of lives and property in Anambra state. After all, he (not the Igbo youths) was the one who swore on the day of his inauguration to strive to preserve the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State policy contained in Chapter II of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
Under the aforementioned chapter, Section 14 (2) (b) stipulates that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” Moreover, as the Chief Security Officer of the state, the governor receives more than N1billion monthly as security vote. Using that humongous fund to safeguard lives and property in Anambra state becomes his major remit. Having failed to do so, he must be held accountable. Whether Igbo or Hausa-Fulani or Yoruba youths are responsible for the insecurity becomes immaterial.
Although some people may argue that insecurity is a national malady, Anambra state is one of the easiest states to secure because of its small land mass of 3, 577 square kilometres. Any serious long distance runner can cover the entire state in one day. Besides, all the security apparatuses of the Nigerian state, including the military and police are available for the governor to deploy to tackle insecurity. He has no excuse.
Truth be told, insecurity in Anambra did not start with the Soludo administration, but whilst other governors before him confronted the menace head on, using both conventional and unconventional methods, Soludo played to the gallery while insecurity became intractable.
It is against the background of the prevailing security situation in Anambra state that the campaign promise by the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), John Chuma Nwosu (JCN), to end insecurity in Anambra within four months has become topical.
Alongside his one-term commitment, JCN maintains that he will be looking to entrench a sustainable legacy rather than thinking of reelection, especially given that the populace in Anambra have lost faith in Soludo administration’s ability to protect their lives and property.
Nwosu vouchsafed that assurance while addressing the Knights of the Anglican Church at Nnewi Diocese. He told the knights that if voted into office on November 8, he would adopt a hi-tech approach to tackle insecurity in the state.
Through his novel approach, criminals will be tracked digitally with artificial intelligence (AI), while crimes will be detected and checked in split seconds by a network of alarm bells, programmed to alert security agencies at the Command and Control Centre (CAC) to respond to the crimes instantaneously.
The tech expert equally promised to empower the security agencies with the necessary wherewithal, including equipment, funds and operational vehicles, as well as communication gadgets, drones and other advanced technology, needed to confront insecurity. In addition, he intends to mount surveillance cameras in the state to monitor the movement of people and vehicles.
Anambra people trust Nwosu’s strategies to exorcise the spectre of insecurity in the state. Many still recall that when he declared for the governorship, the ADC standard bearer said he was angry that things were not working very well in his home state. He pointed out that the fact that the state was very insecure, resulted in the flight of people, investors and capital.
Consequently, the ADC flag bearer highlighted security as the priority item of his seven-point SHEEEMS Agenda. According to him, SHEEEMS represents Security, Health, Education, Environment, Markets and Social Welfare. Further, Nwosu declared his intention to run a people-centered government and pursue a popular security policy, by making security everybody’s business and not the concern of government alone.
Does this sound as another empty political campaign promise? Frankly, I don’t think so. Anybody who understands the intricacies of campaign messaging could easily decipher the sincerity of ADC candidate. Nwosu understands that security is a key enabler of growth and development in any society. To attract both indigenous and foreign investors, security is paramount.
In sum, November 8 is another golden opportunity for Anambra people to take their destiny in their hands. They have two clear options to choose from on that day, either to move to the Promised Land, where there is security, peace and progress, or remain in Egypt for another four years, living in perpetual fear of insecurity.