…. Says Peace and Security is our collective responsibility
By Ikenwa Charity
The Executive Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuma Charles Soludo has imposed a 6pm to 6am curfew for all commercial motorcycle riders, shuttle buses and tricycle riders in eight local government areas of Anambra State from Monday, 30th May, 2022.
In a live broadcast from the Governor’s lodge in Awka, Governor Soludo said that security is foundational in the efforts of his administration to enthrone a liveable and prosperous homeland. a
Governor Soludo who stressed that the directive will be reviewed in a fortnight, ordered security officials to begin immediate enforcement of the directive immediately in the affected local government areas which includes Aguata, Ihiala, Ekwusigo, Nnewi North and South, Ogbaru and Orumba North and South.
The Governor also announced that in addition to the ten million naira reward for information on the killers of Hon. Okechukwu Okoye and his aid, one million will be given to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of anyone or group linked in any of the violent crimes being committed in the state or information on anyone or location where hard drugs are manufactured in the state.
He tasked the Union leaders and the community vigilante to rise up to the occasion, report their members who are involved in criminal activities, pointing out that state government will revoke and acquire any land found to be used and occupied by criminals as this measures will curb insecurity in the region for no part of Anambra shall be used for criminal activities.
In his word; ‘’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 harboring 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.’’
‘’All communities are hereby charged to take over their communities completely and through the leadership of their Town Unions and Traditional Rulers give weekly security reports (submitted every Friday) to the State Government on the state of security in their communities. The cooperation of the youths in that regard is now imperative. I charge the vigilantes of each community to rise to the occasion and contend with these criminals in your locality whether they are in your bush or the houses in your community. The State Government expects the report of any progress made in this regard and shall support and reward you accordingly. ‘’
‘’Any buildings found to be harboring these kidnappers and murderers who have laid siege on our State will, as provided by Criminal Code (Amendment No.3) Law 2013, be forfeited to the State Government. To that extent, all landlords are hereby directed to proceed on “Operation Know Your Tenant” by keeping appropriate records of their tenants and report anyone suspected of being involved in criminal activities. Each community leadership must keep full register of all tenants in their communities, their occupation, etc and keep an eye on their activities. The State Government shall as an emergency measure, disband the leadership of any community which fails to report criminal activities in their communities or immediately respond to the requests contained in this address.’’
Soludo mandated all landlords to begin operation know your tenants where they have a special register for their tenants with information such as occupation, among others, calling on market leaders, hotel managements and stakeholders to join hands with the government though weekly security reports to the State Government.
Addressing the transporters and commuters, Governor asked them to report any suspicious passengers to the relevant authorities, Professor Soludo maintained that re-registration of vehicles used for transportation will commence with immediate effect, as a way of checking fake transporters and instructs all fuel stations to place cameras in their stations, to trace criminals.
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 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.
He expressed optimism that the season shall pass as such tough beginnings usually foretell a glorious future, enjoining religious leaders to continue to pray for the state to succeed.
