Security agencies in Anambra State have reportedly busted nine camps belonging to ‘unknown gunmen’ in the Anambra South Senatorial District.
Nine shrines used by the hoodlums for oath-taking were also raided by the joint task force on security in the state.
A police source said natives who acted as informants to the hoodlums were also in detention and making useful statements.
Some areas raided by the task force included Aguluezechukwu in Aguata Local Government Area; Ebenato community in Nnewi South LGA; Ezinifite community also in Nnewi South LGA; and Ichi, in Ekwusigo LGA.
Other areas include part of Osumoghu, Lilu and some parts of Ukpor in Nnewi South and Ihiala LGAs.
The source said most native doctors had fled from their homes because some of their colleagues who were arrested had been providing names of those involved in killings and kidnappings in the state.
The Anambra Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said it was too early to begin to count the successes in the war against terror in the state.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has declared a curfew in the state. The governor made the declaration in a state broadcast on Wednesday evening in Awka.
Soludo took the decision following reports of wanton killings, kidnappings and other insecurity issues affecting the state.
The former governor of the Central Bank equally banned motorcycles, keke and shuttle buses from operating on Mondays.
According to him: “With effect from tomorrow, Friday, 26th May, 2022, a 6pm to 6am curfew is hereby placed on motorcycles (okada), tricycles (keke), and shuttle buses in Aguata, Ihiala, Ekwusigo, Nnewi North, Nnewi South, Ogbaru, Orumba North and Orumba South Local Governments until further notice.
Until further notice also, motorcycles, keke and shuttle buses are banned from operating in these local governments on Mondays until the Sit-at-Home completely stops. The youths of every community in the zone are hereby enjoined to assist the security agencies in the implementation of this policy and are mandated to seize any such motorcycle or tricycle on the spot.
“Local Vigilantes should report such motorcycles or tricycles (keke) immediately, and they will be confiscated by the government and the owner prosecuted. The Okada, Keke, and shuttle bus union leaders must take responsibility to report their members who are involved in criminal activities. We shall review this after two weeks, and if members of these unions continue to be involved in criminal activities, the government will have no choice but to either disband the Unions and/or ban them out rightly in the state.
“No part of Anambra State (house, bush or forest) shall be used as camps for these criminals. Anyone with a gun in a camp is considered a criminal in Anambra State, and the government and people will work with security agencies to flush them out.
“The State Government shall pursuant to its powers under the Land Use Act revoke and acquire any land found to be harbouring these criminals, for public purpose. Henceforth, every community is required to provide information on any part of their land occupied by these criminals as camps. If the community fails to do so, the government will take over such land.”
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
THE Anambra State Police command said Monday that it had identified some criminals terrorizing the state, stressing that there was nothing unknown about the gunmen as people tag them.
Addressing reporters in Awka, the state Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng said the command would go all out to deal with them, even as he frowned at the reluctance by indigenes of various communities in the state to volunteer information about the activities of criminals in their areas to help tackle the problem.
The CP said: “There is nothing unknown about the gunmen terrorizing Anambra State, to warrant calling then ‘unknown gunmen’.
“We have been saying that unknown gunmen is not the right name for these criminals. We are trying to mystify something that is not just there.
“It is time we go into demystifying them. These people are not spirits, they live with us, they are our nephews, our cousins, our brothers, and they live in communities. We know who they are.
“The problem of security is that of total silence as nobody sees something, nobody hears something and nobody says something.
“Security is collective and everyone has a part to play. Crimes are localized, and they happen in our communities. We should be able to come up with information of what is happening in our communities, not glorifying them and tagging them as unknown gunmen, otherwise we will end up not making headways. We know them, we have actually arrested some of them, and they are human beings.
“I want us to also shift the narrative that these criminals are Fulani. We have arrested some and taken out some during gun duels.
“So, when the communities that should help to contribute to security decide to stay quiet, that is not a good sign.
“Last week a person I didn’t know told me that a team of gunmen were operating at Umunze in a Hummer Jeep, I sent a team after them, and we were told they have moved to Umuchu and we pursued them and were able to take out four of them.
“I don’t know the man who gave me the information, but we used the information to fight the criminals. That black Hummer Jeep you see there (pointing to it) was recovered from the criminals.
“You can see what information can do. That is how powerful information is, and we expect people to give information,” Echeng said.
“The state police command has decided to go all out on these criminals. Their dens have been identified, and soon, news of their exploit will be made known.
“We will not spare any of them. Forget the narrative they push that they live in the forest, they create that impression and then return to the communities where they live.
“What they have in the forest are just shrines, and we have visited and destroyed most of them. These criminals live among the people”,
Echeng debunked the insinuation that the murdered Anambra lawmaker, Hon Okechukwu Okoye was killed because of refusal to pay ransom, saying “I am not aware that any ransom was demanded, or that any ransom was paid”,
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State, on Saturday, condemned the killing of a lawmaker and his aide in the state.
The victims, Okechukwu Okoye, the lawmaker representing Aguata Constituency 2 in the Anambra State House of Assembly and his campaign director, Cyril Chiegboka, were abducted in Aguata on Sunday.
On Saturday, six days after the kidnap, the lawmaker’s head was dumped at Chisco park in Amichi, a community in Nnewi South Local Government Area of the state and his body was also found in Nnobi, Idemili South Local Government Area of the state.
The police spokesperson in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed this in a statement said his corpse had been recovered and deposited in the mortuary.
Although the fate of the lawmaker’s aide was unknown earlier, Mr Soludo said the gunmen also killed the aide.
The governor, in a statement by his spokesperson, Christian Aburime, expressed “shock and deep sadness” over the killing of the victims, describing it as “heartless and barbaric.”
“Governor Soludo condoles with his kinsmen of Isuofia, noting that it is probably the same criminal gang that attacked him and killed three policemen at Isuofia, two years ago, that are once again on the prowl. But they can never cow down Isuofia and Anambra State,” the spokesperson wrote.
He said the governor has “consequently placed an N10 million reward for anyone or group that will avail valuable information that will lead to the immediate arrest of the perpetrators of this dastardly act.”
Mr Soludo also vowed that those who carried out the act and other criminals operating in the state would be “decisively” brought to book.
“Anambra will soon be a hell for these criminals,” he said.
The governor reiterated his administration’s resolve and renewed determination with the security agencies to track down the criminals in the state to face the full weight of the law.
He assured residents of the state that “Anambra will win against the forces of darkness,” just as he urged them to brace up for a fight against the criminals in the state.
Increased attacks
Security in Nigeria’s South-east has deteriorated in recent times with attacks by armed persons reported almost on a daily basis across the region.
Anambra State has witnessed some of the worst attacks in the region. The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities.
The governor said the visit to the IPOB leader was part of his “wider consultations with critical stakeholders” to ensure lasting peace and security in the Southeast.
During his inauguration as the state governor, Mr Soludo had called for dialogue with the IPOB group and similar groups in the state and region.
The governor, thereafter, announced an amnesty programme for the gunmen and declared an end to the sit-at-home order in the state. But residents have continued to obey the Monday sit-at-home order in the state and across the region, mostly out of fear.
The attacks by the gunmen increased in the state shortly after Mr Soludo’s inauguration and announcement of an end to the sit-at-home order in the state.
The Nigerian government has accused IPOB of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region. But the group has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attacks.
The separatist group is leading the agitation for an independent state of Biafra to be carved out from the South-east and some parts of South-south Nigeria.
Mr Kanu is currently being detained in Abuja where he is facing trial for treason.
He appearedin court on May 18, in continuation of his trial. He is billed to appear in court again on May 26.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
The more worrisome thing here about the killing in the South East is that nobody is taking responsibility. And intelligence is not providing any Suspicion.
The minders of the IPOB group through their mouthpiece which existed even before Mazi Nnamdi Kanu
was detained by the name Emma powerful have repeatedly denied involvement. Even dissociating themselves from the ‘Sit at home’ – ‘Holy Monday’ order.
Radar shifted to one Finland Based Simon Ekpa, who refers to his new group as Autopilot ….. Mr Ekpa through his recent broadcast also denied the involvement of his group in the killings and has rather diverted attention to some failed or disgruntled politicians.
Since no one has been taking responsibility….the term Unknown gunmen became convenient. Our concern and worry are, how come no valid and reliable Intelligence has unambiguously identified who the Unknown Gunmen are, both intelligence from the state actors and non-state actors ‘security’ networks?
Only accusing fingers are being pointed here and there, and the Unknown Gunmen are on a rampage. Then IPOB / ESN (Emma powerful group) used to claim they got all deep information about everything and anybody in Nigeria and outside Nigeria and also claim their intentions is to secure Biafra land, what’s happening now? No Intelligence again.
Then we were shown video clips of escapades in the forests against invading Fulani herdsmen, how they were chased away with their cows and all that. What is happening now? Have all the forest invaders, been chased away from the forests now invaded the towns and roads? If so, why have they not been pursued and chased away from the towns as they were chased away from the forests?
We used to have Intelligence from them about Buhari’s plastic ears, Buhari’s death, and Buhari’s body double. How come we can’t have credible Intelligence about the perpetrators and masterminds of these killings in our own Land?
Did these slaughtered people also disobey the sit at home order? Is the IPOB power only for and against the hapless traders, common struggling folks and fellow kinsmen?
Who is this Enemy that has refused to be unmasked, defined and isolated? Even with the strong Intelligence of IPOB/ESN?
Will this situation not provide a true test of the strength, the power, ‘sincerity of purpose’ and ‘needfulness’ of the so-called security outfit and the organization?
What is really happening here?
Also, the Ekpa group claim to have the objectives of defending the Biafra Land….how can you be defending the Land and not defending the lives of the people of the Land?
Is the Biafra Land now more important than Biafra Lives?
What’s going on here ??
It is obvious that criminals have taken over, but what needs to be found out is – which groups do these criminals belong to?
Do they have any affiliation?
Which/ what affiliation is that?
This is no longer an Agitation, this is cheer criminality and wickedness. It is a killing spree!
Serial killers are on the loose.
The Biafra Land is desecrated. And huge atonement would be required. For me what is critical is for the Governor Soludo security team to go underground and first identify who the real murderers are, what is their motive, and who is beating them. The drum for them ??
Then the criminals can be targeted.
Uncommon, unconventional methods and approaches can be deployed.
Anambra had faced daunting security challenges before, Onitsha was on many occasions very notorious and many times a theatre of crime.
Anambra overcame all of that and was acclaimed the safest state in Nigeria at some point recently.
Boyz Oye ! Happened
Bakassi boyz ! Happened.
Some other movements happened.
Don’t know which will happen this time around.
But something must definitely happen soon….very soon. The blood of the innocent is complaining bitterly to God.
Anambra can’t give up her spirit and is being tested once again.
The dimming light will shine bright again, to dispel this gloomy darkness.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
Anambra State Association Finland (ASA Finland) and ASA Europe held the first “ASA Europe Convention” in Helsinki, Finland.
The Anambra State Association Finland (ASA Finland) held its annual convention between Aug 10th – Aug 12th 2018, in Helsinki, Finland. The two-day event was a celebration of Anambra culture and heritage, and it was attended by over 200 people from all over Europe. The event featured a business conference, a cultural carnival, and the launch of the ASA Finland 2018 brochure.
The convention was opened by the chairman of ASA Finland, Engr Anthony-Claret Onwutalobi. In his welcome address, Engr Onwutalobi thanked the guests for attending the convention and expressed his hope that the event would be a success. He also spoke about the importance of unity and cooperation among Nigerians living in Finland.
The business conference was an opportunity for Anambra people from all over Europe to network and discuss ways to promote business and investment in Anambra State. The cultural carnival was a showcase of Anambra culture, and it featured traditional Igbo dances, music, and food. The ASA Finland 2018 brochure was a comprehensive guide to Anambra State, and it included information on business, tourism, and education.
The convention featured a number of speakers, including the president of the Anambra State Association Europe Chapter, Chief Onuorah. Chief Onuorah spoke about the challenges facing Anambraians living in Europe and the importance of working together to overcome these challenges.
The convention also featured a number of cultural performances, including a traditional Igbo dance performance and a Nigerian music performance. The performances were well-received by the audience and helped to create a sense of community among the attendees.
The convention concluded with a vote of thanks by the chairman of ASA Finland, Engr Anthony-Claret Onwutalobi. Engr. Onwutalobi thanked the guests for attending the convention and expressed his hope that the event would be a success. He also spoke about the importance of unity and cooperation among Nigerians living in Finland.
The ASA Europe Convention is an important event for Nigerians living in Europe. It provides an opportunity for Nigerians to come together and celebrate their culture and heritage. The convention also provides an opportunity for Nigerians to network with each other and to learn about the challenges and opportunities facing Nigerians living in Europe.
Here are some of the highlights of the event:
The business conference was opened by the President of ASA Europe, Chief Christian Onuorah. He welcomed the delegates to the conference and spoke about the importance of promoting business and investment in Anambra State.
The cultural carnival was a colourful and lively event. It featured traditional Igbo dances, music, and food. The guests were entertained by the son of the late Igbo high-life music maestro “Oliver de Coque” and the masquerade dance, which is a symbolic cultural identity of Ndi Anambra.
The ASA Finland 2018 brochure was launched by Chief Christian Onuorah and the Chairman of ASA Finland, Engr Claret-Anthony Onwutalobi. The brochure is a comprehensive guide to Anambra State, and it includes information on business, tourism, and education.
The ASA Europe Convention was a great success, and it was a wonderful opportunity for Anambra people from all over Europe to come together and celebrate their culture and heritage. The event was also a great opportunity to promote business and investment in Anambra State.
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
For months I have been contemplating writing on events happening in Anambra state. Ever since Governor Peter Obi returned as the Chief Executive of the state, there have been claims and counter-claims about his performance in office or lack of it. Continue reading →
Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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