10 kidnap in one day: Security collapses in Anambra, cult killings rises

By Ifeizu Joe

Security seems to have collapsed in Anambra State, with a recent rise in kidnapping, and constant killings related to cult activities.

Though there have always been insecurity in the state, but the current wave, especially in cult killing have been attributed by many to the exit of former commissioner of Police, Mr Aderemi Adeoye who fought cultists to a standstill. Aderemi had during his time stood his feet firm on the ground, to the point of battling some elites of Awka kingdom, who were mentioned for being among the sponsors of cultism.

In one day, last Saturday, THE RAZOR learnt that there were four kidnap cases in Anambra, but a chieftain of Labour Party and former governorship candidate, Mr Valentine Ozigbo insisted that a total of 10 kidnap cases happened.

Our correspondent gathered that at about 2pm on that faithful Saturday, gunmen operating in a black Sienna vehicle stopped a lone driver of a Lexus RX 350 SUV at gunpoint and ordered him down from his car and into theirs. The incident was captured in an amateur footage that later went viral. One of the gunmen who was hooded took to the wheels of the victims car and drove behind his gang members, while they shot into the air sporadically to instill fear and then escaped. Sources said the incident happened close to the popular Wintess Hotel at Ifite, Awka, which is a little away from Nnamdi Azikiwe University back gate.

A source from the same area said shortly after, and without fear of being arrested, the same men in same car trailed another occupant of a Lexus 350 salon, black in colour and picked him without challenge.

The source said unlike the first operation where they shot in the air to instill fear in the people of the area, this time they leisurely drove away after picking the victim, without a shot, while abandoning the victims vehicle on the road.

Two other incidences that happened on the same Saturday at night were at Oraukwu and Nimo communities respectively.

“In Oraukwu, the man was trailed and abducted, and his Lexus RX 350 SUV abandoned on the road, while in the Nimo incident, a petrol station owner who was said to be driving home with one of his petrol attendant was accosted by gunmen.

“The petrol attendant, a young man was shot dead and his master, who is the owner of the petrol station was abducted and taken to and unknown location,” an indigene of the state who preferred to remain anonymous told THE RAZOR.

Former governorship candidate of the state, Mr Valentine Ozigbo while reacting to insecurity in the state said Soludo has failed the state. He however said that instead of four incidences of kidnap last Saturday, that there were actually 10 cases, and he went ahead to list them all.

Ozigbo said: “Anambra is no longer at ease. From Awka through Ekwulobia to Ihiala, it is same story of abductions of citizens.

“To therefore say the security architecture in Anambra has collapsed is to state the very obvious. Yesterday’s (Saturday) 10 separate abductions across the state speak volumes of the sorry state of security in Anambra. They include two each in Ifite Awka and Agulu-Adazi-Oraukwu Road; one in Nimo, two along Ichida-Neni-Igboukwu axis; one along Afor Nkpor Road and an attempted kidnap case around E dey Work, Nnewi Road.

“While the state burns, Prof Chukwuma Soludo is busy harassing poor market women and drivers in the name of tax and revenue collection.

“Ndi Anambra are tired of excuses and name calling. The current situation is dire and demands urgent and immediate action. Let Soludo come off his high horse and apply a solution. I call on Soludo to drop all pretences and do the needful which is ensuring the security of those under his care. Anambra is broken and needs serious mending,” he said.

Also, cult killing has been on the rise in the state capital. Between last week Sunday and this week, no fewer than eight youths have been killed in what has been identified as cult related killings.

Penultimate Sunday which was 7th of July and dubbed 7/7, a day many cultists celebrate their confraternity, Anambra State Police command had just a day before sent out a press release warning against any such celebration in the state.

The release which was signed by the command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga said the command would not tolerate any gathering of such elements, while also warning that bar and hotel operators who lend their space to such elements would be delt with.

One would think that with such warning, the command has made adequate arrangements to police the state, but on the same Sunday, three people were reportedly killed in the state capital, Awka.

A senior journalists who prefers not to be named, who witnessed on of the killings said: “I was outside the gate of my compound, getting prepared to leave the house, when my landlady accosted me and we were discussing. Suddenly a black SUV car with tinted glasses slowly drove past us. If you know where I am living, you will know that erosion is a problem there. So after my compound, you will meet just one more compound and then you meet a dead end, where erosion cut off the road.

“As the vehicle drove by, my landlady started calling the driver of the vehicle to tell them that the road there were headed had been cut off by erosion. I told my landlady to leave them that once they get to the bad spot, they will come back. We were still discussing when we heard gunshots. We all ran into the compound, and the same vehicle drove past and went away. When the dust settles, it turned out that it was a boy who sells beer in front of the next compound that they shot dead. That experience spoilt my Sunday, and I didn’t go out any longer,” he said.

On the next day which was Monday, one person was also reportedly gunned down in Awka.

Within the week, there were also unverified stories of secret killings, but on Saturday, two youths were reportedly gunned down. One happened around Emma Nnaemeka Street, and his assailants cut off one of his hand and made away with it. On Sunday too, just as this reporter was packaging this report, news filtered in that two persons have also been gunned down in cult related killings.

As these continues, many have placed blames on the doorstep of the governor of the state, while some think the blame should go to the new commissioner of Police, CP Enaghe Obono Itam.

A former governorship candidate and a chieftain of Labour Party, Mr Oseloka Obaze blamed Soludo for it. During a strategy meeting on Sunday in Awka with members of his political group, Team OHO, he lamented too that Anambra under Soludo has broken irretrievably.

He said: “As regards our home state, Anambra, we thought 2014 to 2022 (under Willie Obiano) was bad; but things have gotten worse since 2021(under Soludo). There is no solution in sight. Anambra was broken and needed to be fixed. Despite high promises of Dubai and Taiwan, Anambra has regressed in terms of security, quality of life and good governance. The present leadership, despite all pretenses is not living up to their promises; and must as such be voted out.”

A private individual in the state, Mr Tony Okafor rather urged Soludo to immediately put his security vote to good use and bring solution to the teething problem of insecurity in the state.

He said: “The escalating insecurity in Anambra State demands immediate and decisive action from the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo. We urge him to utilize his security votes to address this crisis.

“Past governors have set a precedent, utilizing security funds to procure vital equipment and vehicles for law enforcement agencies. Anambra State residents cry out for protection and reassurance. The governor must harness his security votes to: bolster law enforcement presence; enhance intelligence gathering capabilities; support community policing initiatives: provide resources for swift and effective response and rescue operations.

“Soludo’s leadership and resolve are being tested. We urge him to rise to the occasion, utilize his security votes and other resources, and restore peace to Anambra State. The people’s trust and safety depend on it. Let us unite in demanding a safer Anambra, where citizens can live without fear.”

Another indigene of the state Mr Lawrence Ibemesi, who resides in Awka has a different view. He thinks the criminals, especially cultists are taking advantage of the exit of former police commissioner, Mr Aderemi Adeoye and the newness of CP Enaghe Obono Itam to do what they couldn’t do previously.

He said: “We don’t know what is happening in Awka any longer. Security people need to sit up because we can no longer understand this killings and kidnapping here and there. I think this is happening because Aderemi Adeoye is no longer here. I don’t know who the new commissioner of Police is, so I can’t tell what his capacity is. But I know how Adeoye fought cultism in Awka, including some very prominent people who were aiding them.

“At some point, he even arrested a prominent indigene of this town. I don’t know this new commissioner, and I haven’t heard much of him, so I think the criminal elements are using the opportunity of the exit of Adeoye to now do what they couldn’t do previously.

Dangerous trend of stealing corpses in Awka

In Awka particularly, most of the youths who are felled daily for cult related activities don’t get the opportunity of a funeral any longer.

A source told THE RAZOR that the usual confiscation of corpses of dead cultists by police has caused families to device new strategies.

“All these young people that are killed daily don’t get the opportunity of a funeral. What is happening is that once a youth is killed, their cult members or members of the family quickly rush and take away the corpse, dig a shallow grave and bury them immediately. That is why sometimes, police doesn’t even have records of some of this killings.

“They do this because failure to do so, the police will confiscate the corpse in the guise of conducting investigation and that may just be the end. It is a dangerous trend, but families have no option,” the source said.

Reacting to the news of kidnappings, the state police command in a press release on Sunday confirmed the kidnap at Ifite, of an unidentified SUV driver on Saturday afternoon.

The state police command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga in the release said: “The Commissioner of Police Anambra State, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam states that efforts are ongoing to arrest the assailants and rescue the victims of the abduction.

“Police responding team recovered the victims’ vehicles and has emplaced Joint Security Measures/Operational positioning to forestall such or related incident in the State.”

He however kept mum on other cases of kidnapping that happened on the same day. When THE RAZOR enquired about cult killings in Awka, Ikenga denied knowledge of any, he called on this reporter to come forward with evidences of the killings.