The Anambra State Commissioner for Homeland Affairs, Chief Chikodi Anarah, has said the state government has won the fight against gunmen and allied criminals troubling the peace of the state.
He vowed that government would not relent until lasting peace and orderliness is finally restored in the eight flashpoints in the state, comprising: Ihiala, Ekwusigo, Nnewi South and Nnewi North. Others are Ogbaru, Aguata, Orumba North and Orumba South.
The Commissioner stated this on Tuesday while defending the 2022 budget estimate of the ministry before the Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Police Affairs and Security Matters, at the House of Assembly complex Awka, the state capital.
While defending his budget, Anarah praised the gallantry, commitment and achievement of security agencies in the state saying that Soludo had restructured, reinvigorated and equipped the Anambra Vigilance Group for the task ahead.
He said, “Our vigilance group is positioned in all parts of the state and are working day and night under the oversight of the security agencies to ensure that Anambra regains its status as the safest state in Nigeria in no distant future.”
He called on residents not to panic but to report any suspicious persons around their abodes, churches and offices to any security outfit close to them for prompt actions, appealing to traditional rulers not to harbour strangers with questionable characters in their domains.
The Chairman of House Committee on Police Affairs and Security Matters, Onyebuchi Offor, and other members of the committee commended the newly created Ministry of Homeland Affairs for the milestones it had achieved within a short period.
On his part, the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Obinna Emenaka, while commending Soludo’s efforts in curbing the security challenges in the state, urged the state ministries, department and agencies to ensure transparency and accountability with the funds allocated to them.
Recently, criminals in the guise of unknown gunmen, had unleashed mayhem in the state, including burning of public property, killing of Dr Chike Akuyili (husband of late Prof Dora Akunyili); kidnapping and beheading of the serving member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, representing Aguata 2 State Constituency, late Hon. Okechukwu Okoye, killing of security operatives, among others.
