Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has condemned those opposing the Agunechemba security outfit, labeling them as supporters and accomplices of kidnappers, armed robbers, and other criminals terrorizing the state.
Speaking on Saturday, February 15, at the funeral mass for the late Justice Azuka, a slain Labour Party lawmaker representing Onitsha 1 Constituency, Soludo vowed to bring justice to those responsible for the killing.
“They murdered Justice, and we will give them justice. No two ways about it,” he said.
The governor expressed concern over the rising brutality among youths, lamenting that unlike before, kidnappers now kill their victims even after collecting ransom.
“Many people have in the past been kidnapped and ransoms were paid, and they were released. But youths of these days kidnap and kill their victims even when they have collected ransom. We must condemn what they are doing, and it must stop. We will not allow them to continue the wickedness.”
Soludo criticized those opposing the Agunechemba security initiative, vowing to make Anambra the safest state in Nigeria.
“Some people are condemning the security outfit we set up and even calling me names. But we don’t care about what they are saying.
“Anambra must be secured to be the most secured state in Nigeria. The people condemning the Agunechemba security are the people who celebrate those working with kidnappers and armed robbers who terrorize us.”
He also warned against using traditional practices to shield criminals, emphasizing that while the government respects freedom of religion, it would not tolerate individuals who protect criminals through fetish means.
“We are not against traditional worship because there is freedom of religion in our constitution. But if you are preparing charms and doing other fetish things to protect kidnappers and armed robbers, we will never allow you to operate here. The kidnappers have crossed the line, and we are after them now.”
Soludo commended the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, for taking proactive steps to prevent criminals fleeing Anambra from settling in Delta State.
“Immediately he discovered that these criminals we are chasing out from Anambra are moving into Asaba, he read his own riot act to them that Asaba will not accommodate them. And he has set machinery in motion to check crime in Asaba.
“That is what a good traditional ruler should do. I want our Anambra traditional rulers to emulate him.”
The funeral was attended by several prominent political figures, including Labour Party’s presidential candidate Peter Obi, Senators Victor Umeh and Tony Nwoye, and other top party members.