•Governor reads Riot Act, unfolds plans for fresh operation to flush out criminals

By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

More than 3,000 “unknown gunmen” have been arrested in Anambra State under the watch of Prof Chukwuma Soludo. The Governor disclosed this while appearing on “Frank Talk”, an Arise Television programme. He revealed that 90 per cent of the arrested suspects are of Igbo extraction, out of which 70% are not Anambra indigenes.

Prof. Soludo reeled out plans aimed at returning Anambra as the safest state in Nigeria. This, he said, would centre around ‘Operation Udo Ga Achi’, meaning, ‘Operation Let Peace Reign’, which he said would be launched next month (January 2025).

Reeling out his 16-point template, the Governor said that the security would be a technology based security outfit stationed at every nook and cranny of the state and the bushes, saying that everyone in the bush must be flushed out and the bush cleared.

He stated that anyone who gives support of any kind to criminals who claim to be agitators must be treated the same way with the criminals.

The Governor said: “No one lives in the bush. Anyone found in the bush henceforth is a Criminal.

“There will be active phone numbers for reporting of information.

“Anyone who gives support of any kind to Criminals who claim to be agitators must be treated the same way with the Criminals.

“There will be a security tight State in Anambra from next month with stop and search method (People must submit to the search everywhere).

“PGs and Igwes must be the first to report the bushes where the Criminals set up camps in their communities.”

Soludo warned that any PG or traditional ruler that fails to report the location or the camps or allow the Criminals to set up camp in any part of their communities, the land be cleared and taken over by the government.

His words: “If Government discover the camp, the land will be cleared and automatically belong to the Government (the Bill is currently at the State Assembly and will be passed soon)

“Any building where kidnapped victim is kept will be cleared and automatically belongs to the Government.

“Any Land Unknown Gunmen set up camp the PG or Igwe must IMMEDIATELY report to the State Security otherwise the land will be taken over by the Government.

“Any community that see Criminals as savior, praise or support the Criminals, such individual (s) in the community will be identified and treated like the Criminals.

“Anambra State Government is so determined to clear Ihiala LGA, Orumba North and South from the Criminals and there is an intense clearing currently ongoing in these LGAs.

“There are 4 FOBs currently fighting in Ihiala to clear these Criminals and the war is ongoing and must be won. There are 2 FOBs fighting in Orumba North and South clearing the LGAs.”

While saying that there will be a new dimension of security forces in Anambra State in January with all possible systems, he urged people to bear with the state, noting that, that will be the best way to end criminality in the state.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the Governor is out for the Criminals and there will be some unfavorable circumstances. Get prepared,” he added.

This is coming as gunmen on Monday evening shot and killed a lecturer with Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Dr Osita Chinedu after he allegedly resisted attempt to snatch his car for operation.

The lecturer was accosted by the men at Aroma junction in Awka, and was later shot in the head, while his Toyota Corolla car was snatched from him. Anambra has been a hotbed for insecurity for sometimes now.