Late last year, Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, reeled out a number of measures aimed at combating the terrible security situation in the state. According to him, the onslaught would begin by the end of January this year under the code name: ”Operation Udo Ga Achi” (Peace will Reign). The major points of the riot act are as follows:
By the end of this month, January Anambra State will launch a new robust security outfit named, “Operation Udo ga -achi’’.
There will be technology based security outfit stationed at every nook and cranny of the state and the bushes.
Everyone in the bush must be flushed out and destroyed. No one leaves 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 as the criminals.
There will be a security tight state in Anambra from next month with stop and search method (people must submit to the searched everywhere).
PGs and Igwes (traditoonal rulers) must be the first to report the bushes where criminals set up camps in their communities.
Any PG or Igwe who fails to report the location or the camps or allow the criminals to set up camps in any part of their communities, if the government discovers the camp, the land will be cleared and automatically belongs to the Government (the Bill is currently at the State Assembly and will be passed soon).
Any building where a kidnapped victim is kept will be cleared and automatically belongs to the government.
In any land where ”unknown gunmen” sets up a camp, the PG or Igwe must immediately report to the state security, otherwise, the land will be taken over by the government.
In any community where criminals are seen as saviour, praised or supported, 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.
Anambra State Government has arrested more than 3,000 unknown gunmen and 90% of them are Igbos. 70% of the arrested ones are not from Anambra State.
There will be a new dimension of security forces in Anambra State next month, with all possible systems and the people must bear with the state because that will be the best way to end the criminality.
There is no doubt that the above virtually touches all aspects of the security problem in Anambra State. The only point where the majority of the citizenry disagreed with Soludo was on the timing of the operation which left out the busy yuletide period and targeted a period when many who came home from various parts of the world would have gone home.
Indeed, the last Christmas period witnessed many cases of kidnapping and killing of innocent citizens by hoodlums which included the killing of a Catholic priest of Nnewi Diocese; the kidnap of two reverend sisters; the kidnap of a retired Archbishop of Nnewi Diocese of the Anglican Communion; the killing of seven people in Ihiala; the killing of a Unizik lecturer; the kidnap of a priest working with Rev Fr Emmanuel Obimma, alias Ebube Muonso; among several other kidnap and killing incidents across the state.
Many believe that had Soludo brought forward the date of the launch of his operation against the criminal elements in the state, many of these people mentioned may not have met their fate.
However, what has happened has happened and we can now only look forward to the launch of ”Operation Udo Ga Achi” later this month as promised by the Governor. Every well-meaning citizen of Anambra State prays for the success of this operation but it can only succeed if the Government musters the political will to carry out the details of the operation to the letter, which is often where the problem lies in such matters.
We are therefore, urging Gov Soludo to walk his talk and never allow his promise to end as mere political talk. The fight against these hoodlums must be holistic and fought without looking back. The fight must be taken to the criminals wherever they are and must be collectively done.
For long, they have seized the public space and been operating without fear. It is not in doubt that they have seen Anambra as the safest haven in the entire Southeast and thus, those criminals outside the state are all trooping in to operate for fun. This must be stopped.
The State Government must ensure total compliance to all the measures by appropriate quarters, including communities where those criminals hide. Once some people or communities are made the scapegoats, others will quickly learn that it is no more business as usual and key in.
The criminals to be arrested, their accomplices and defaulting communities must be punished. It is the only way sanity can gradually return to the once peaceful state called Anambra. May this operation succeed.
