By Our Correspondent
Anambra State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Sylvia Ifemeje has explained that the newly established Agunechemba security outfit in the state was not set up to usurp the functions of the Nigeria Police Force.
Ifemeje made the clarification during a town hall meeting on human rights, police accountability, and justice administration in Anambra State, organized by the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Center, RULAAC, in Awka.
She said that the establishment of Agunechemba became necessary following increasing security challenges in the state, noting that since the law came into force on January 17, 2025, crime and kidnapping had reduced considerably in the state.
The Attorney General, who took time to explain the 20 chapters of the Agunechemba law, said that many states have been calling and asking Anambra to give them a copy of the law so that they can replicate it in their states.
She said: “The purpose of the law is for the maintenance of internal security and order in Anambra State and not to take over the duties of the police and other security agencies.
“Operatives of the law are people indigenous to the society and it is a collaborative effort between the security outfit and government.
Members of the committee include the Governor or his representative, the Commissioner in charge of Homeland Security, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Representatives of the Police, DSS, NSCDC, Chairman of the House of Assembly Committee on Security, Chairman of Council of Traditional Rulers, Legal Adviser in the Ministry of Justice, Mayors of Local Government Areas and any other member as may be appointed by the governor. Traditional Rulers are the patrons of Agunechemba.
“The role of the committee is to ensure that there is proper coordination of the operations of Agunechemba security.
“Targets include people who display wealth lavishly and luxuriously without any known means of livelihood, as well as forests suspected to be harbouring kidnappers and ritualists.
“Hotel owners that fail to give proper records of their guests stand the risk of imprisonment or payment of N5m or both and every hotel proprietor should install CCTV cameras in their hotels. Failure to do so attracts a fine of N1m. The Commissioner for Tourism is also empowered to withdraw the license of the defaulter.”
According to her, the law also prohibits the activities of Ezenwayi, ( female native doctors), adding that anyone who practices it or for the purpose of acquisition of wealth through supernatural means other than known means of livelihood, commits an offence and is liable to six years imprisonment with an option of fine of N20m, or both.
She added::”This law has raised a lot of dust from many angles. Some people have criticized it and described it as discriminatory. Some people even say it amounts to a ban on traditional religion, but nobody is banning traditional practices.
“The only thing is that if you use the traditional religion to commit crime, the long arm of the law will come after you. Those who take people to the waters and tell them that after the rituals they could go for kidnapping and succeed, will be find N20m or imprisoned.
“Igbo people are known all over the world as enterprising, but with the emergence of this Okeite people who tell their customers to make sacrifice and at times, demand human parts, government had to take action.
“From one of those being detained, we saw all manner of blood as those who went to these people sometimes said, I want you to kill so and so persons. We are gathering more evidence for the purpose of his prosecution.
“The law does not target any person. It is not discriminatory. Our concern is reduction of crime in our state. Few months ago, Anambra was in the news for wrong reasons and that is precisely why this law was promulgated.”
