By Ikeugonna Eleke
The Anambra State Government has warned town criers in various communities who have been misquoting the state’s new Homeland Security Law, 2025.
A press release by the Commissioner for Information, noted that town criers in many communities, in making announcements about the need to adhere to the laws, had been inputting clauses that were not part of the new law.
Communities in the state had been mandated to announce compulsory registration for non-indigenes living in their communities, and also the need for urgent discontinuation of the activities of native doctors and native priestesses who defaced bodies of water in the communities by offering sacrifices.
But in the midst of this, some communities have added other clauses, including arrest of ladies walking half naked and men wearing dreadlocks and other obscene hair styles.
But reacting to this in a press release by the Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, the Anambra State Government warned against such, saying it amounted to sabotage of the new law.
The release read: ‘The attention of the Anambra State Government has been drawn to the misrepresentations of the unambiguous provisions of the new Anambra State Homeland Security Law, 2025.
‘In one instance, a town crier told the people that henceforth, those wearing dreadlocks or sagging their trousers would be arrested, while in another, perhaps the most absurd, a town crier told the people that women not wearing pants and bras would now be arrested.
‘This kind of false information and misrepresentation of the new law needs to end because it has the potential to cause crisis and confusion.
‘These misleading statements made by these town criers are neither part of the new law nor are they a directive from the State Government. For the avoidance of doubt, the new law has nothing to do with the dress code.’
The Commissioner said henceforth, Government would consider such misinformation to be intentional and fabricated to incite the public against the new law and Agunechemba, a security outfit which it established, as well as Operation Udo Ga-Achi, which aims to purge the state of criminality.
He added that the law was specifically targeted at evil native doctors, sorcerers, and idolaters who prepared Oke-Ite (magic pots) and similar potions and charms for criminals.
‘Those native doctors who prepare Odeshi (charm against bullets), which gives the criminals Dutch (foolish) courage with which they commit robberies, kidnapping, and other violent crimes, are the target.
‘Going forward, Town Criers must now consult their communities’ Presidents-General before broadcasting any messages, and the Presidents-General will be held accountable if the broadcasting of the messages misrepresents the new law or the purpose of Agunechemba and Operation Udo Ga-Achi.
‘When in doubt, the President-General should consult the Government, especially the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor (SPAD) on Community Security.’
The misinformation by town criers has indeed generated condemnation of the State Government, with some social media users arguing that some of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s children also wore dreadlocks.
Meanwhile, out of fear, some youths in most communities have shaved off their dreadlocks for fear of arrest. This could be seen in social media videos being circulated on the Internet.
With this clarification from Government, it is now hoped that what could have created chaos may have been averted. Already, at Upper Iweka, Onitsha; even before the latest round of announcements, some unscrupulous elements masquerading as touts had been engaged in molesting women wearing trousers and extorting money from them.
