Chukwuma Soludo, the governor of Anambra State, has announced special security operations called “Udo Ga-Achị” and “Agunechemba” in addition to passing the Anambra Homeland Security Law.
Speaking at the ceremony on Saturday at the International Convention Centre in Awka, Soludo said that maintaining law and order and security are essential to realizing the state’s goal of creating a successful and livable nation.
He said that the state government is steadfast in its resolve to address insecurity and guarantee that Anambra is freed from the criminal elements, who are now committing “lucrative criminality” in the name of emancipation and agitation.
He declared that the action was a huge revolution by his government to establish a strong security system with “zero tolerance for criminality,” and that everyone who provided helpful information that resulted in the capture of kidnappers would receive N5 million.
The governor pointed out that criminals now use the pretense of a liberation movement to commit a variety of profitable crimes, including kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery, and even idolatry for ransom, which exacerbates the state’s already high level of insecurity.
He said, “January 17, 2025, marked our two years and 10 months in office. True to our promise last month to take decisive actions on security, it is auspicious that we mark this anniversary and begin the new year with the events of today.
“Today, we are here to unveil the Anambra Homeland Security Law, which the state Assembly worked vigorously to pass. The second event is the formal launching of our special intervention on security called, ‘Operation Udo-ga-chi’. It is the new security architecture we have now.
“The third one will be to formally inaugurate the state Anambra Traditional Rulers Council because the traditional rulers have a very important role to play in this process. Ndi Anambra, security, law and order remain pivotal to the attainment of our vision of a liveable and prosperous homeland.
“I want to assure you that despite the unique challenges of lucrative criminality adorned with deceptive ideology and propaganda, we are determined to fight criminality and ensure that Anambra becomes the safest state in Nigeria.
“The character and dynamics of criminality in the South-East and Nigeria have evolved and become hydra-headed, and so our response must be thoughtful, deliberate and comprehensive, involving both the kinetic and non-kinetic agenda.”
He added, “For example, kidnapping for ransom is not new. I recall that my 78-year-old father was kidnapped in 2009, and he spent 15 days with his abductors in the bush. Earlier that year, the oil mogul, Chief Anthony Enukeme (Tonimas), Chief Paul Okonkwo (Pokobros), Chief G.U.O Okeke, etc were kidnapped in the state. It was as if Armageddon had come.
“In 2021, governorship candidates could not campaign, especially in the Anambra South, to the extent the candidate of the Labour Party was kidnapped on the way to a political rally, and to date, he has not been found.
“My predecessor tackled the menace head-on. However, about 20 months before we assumed office in March 2022, a variant of the criminal gang under the guise of separatist agitation emerged with command-and-control centres.
“They killed policemen and soldiers at checkpoints and collected their guns. They attacked and burnt down many police stations. Sadly, most stakeholders kept mute. They set up camps in the bushes and forests and labelled themselves as ‘liberators’.
“Most people did not pay attention and very few cared to ask how these people with arms will be feeding from month to month or year to year or how they will be funding their operations.”
The governor also stated that the state is making significant investments in logistical support, stating that the special forces for “Operation Udo-ga-Chi” and “Agunechemba” will consist of approximately 2,000 troops. These personnel will be drawn from several security agencies, including the army, police, DSS, and NSCDC.
Furthermore, Soludo revealed that more than 99 percent of the arrested criminals are Igbo, while roughly 70 percent are not from Anambra State. He also said that criminals are drawn to Anambra since that is where the money is.
He emphasized that the state administration is committed to freeing the residents of all Ihiala towns and surrounding areas from the criminals who are holding them as hostages.
The governor urged the criminals to give up their weapons and to take advantage of the state government’s amnesty window, which he said is still open through the end of February.
“Kidnapping for ransom has quickly become the most lucrative criminal enterprise—better than drug trafficking or oil bunkering. They are now engaging in lucrative criminality in the name of agitations and liberation struggle.
“The NBS reported that about N2.2 trillion was paid as ransom in 2024. We estimate that for every one Naira reported, there are probably about 5-6 Naira not reported (amounting to more than N10 trillion in ransom payments in 2024.
“No sector of the economy, with little capital investment, could muster that kind of revenue/return). With a culture that celebrates wealth without work and does not ask people for their source of livelihood, even kidnappers and drug barons are also celebrated.
“Besides kidnapping and armed robbery, there are other related challenges which reinforce each other—cultism, drug epidemic, land grabbing and touting. The Anambra Homeland Security Law 2025 attempts to provide a framework to progress along the above pillars.
“It not only establishes our new vigilante architecture (Agunechemba) but also provides a framework for community/citizens ownership and participation in the sustainable security and social re-engineering of our homeland. It’s a complement to policing by special intelligence. It will have special forces on idolatry, touting, drug and cultism,” he added.
Additionally, Soludo called on citizens to work with the government to combat instability, saying “security is a collective responsibility, government alone cannot do it, security agencies alone cannot do it. It requires the collective effort of the community. In fact, 99 per cent of the criminals arrested are Igbo. They engaged in lucrative criminality and were not liberators, as they claim.
“For our long-term survival, we must fight together. If you see something, say something. We are ready to fight. In the next few weeks or months, they will come out to harass us in order to scare us, but we have seen them before, they will give way, just like they gave way before.”