Soludo reveals arrest of over 3,000 “unknown gunmen”

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has disclosed that more than 3,000 individuals identified as “unknown gunmen” have been arrested under his administration.

Speaking on the “Frank Talk” program on Arise Television, Soludo revealed that 90% of those apprehended are of Igbo descent, with 70% hailing from states outside Anambra.

The governor unveiled plans to make Anambra the safest state in Nigeria through the upcoming launch of a security initiative dubbed ‘Operation Udo Ga Achi,’ which translates to ‘Operation Let Peace Reign.’ Scheduled for January 2025, the initiative will involve deploying technology-based security measures across every part of the state, including the bushes where criminal camps have been established.

Soludo emphasized that no one should live in the bushes and warned that anyone found there would be treated as a criminal. He also stated that individuals who support these criminals, often disguised as agitators, would face the same consequences. Community leaders, including traditional rulers and presidents-general (PGs), were tasked with reporting any criminal camps within their areas, failing which the government would clear and take over such lands.

The governor announced plans for a security-tight state featuring active phone numbers for reporting crime, stop-and-search operations, and intense clearing efforts in notorious local government areas such as Ihiala, Orumba North, and Orumba South. According to Soludo, there are currently Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) fighting to rid these regions of criminals, and the operations will continue until peace is restored.

He assured residents that while some inconveniences might arise from these measures, the state is determined to end criminal activities and restore order.

This announcement comes amid ongoing insecurity in the state, including the recent killing of Dr. Osita Chinedu, a lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Dr. Chinedu was shot dead at Aroma Junction in Awka after resisting gunmen attempting to steal his car. Such incidents have heightened concerns about safety in Anambra, but Soludo’s new measures are aimed at addressing the challenges head-on.