Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has unveiled two special security operations, codenamed Udo Ga-Achị and Agunechemba, as part of his administration’s efforts to combat insecurity.
The unveiling took place on Saturday, January 18, at the International Convention Centre in Awka, alongside the passage of the Anambra Homeland Security Law.
Addressing the gathering, Soludo emphasized that security, law, and order are critical to achieving sustainable growth and development in the state.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to tackling the growing insecurity, particularly criminal activities disguised as agitations or liberation struggles.
To strengthen the fight against crime, the governor announced a N5 million reward for anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of kidnappers. He expressed concern over the rise in what he termed “lucrative criminality” across the country, particularly in the South-East region.
“The character and dynamics of criminality in the South-East and Nigeria have evolved and become hydra-headed,” Soludo stated. “Our response must be thoughtful, deliberate, and comprehensive, involving both kinetic and non-kinetic measures.”
The governor called on residents of Anambra to work together to eradicate insecurity in the state.
He cited a 2024 report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which estimated that Nigerians paid over N2.2 trillion in ransom to kidnappers that year. Soludo added that unreported cases could bring the total to over N10 trillion.
The newly launched security operations aim to address these challenges through coordinated strategies and enhanced community collaboration.
Soludo urged all stakeholders to join hands in restoring peace and stability to Anambra State.