INSECURITY: Obiano Talks Tough, Vows To Go After Perpetrators And Sponsors

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— Says Attack On Security Agents Is An Attack On The
State
— Urges Youths To Desist Cultism And Embrace Meaningful
Lifestyle
— Calls For United Efforts By All And Sundry To Tackle
Menace
— Says Government in a serious manhunt for the killers of
President General of Omor Community

Given the worsening security situation in the state, the Anambra
State Government led by Chief Willie Obiano, has made it clear that
his administration will henceforth adopt a tough stance against the
menace and ensure that the state and all its inhabitants are always
safe and protected.

In an address made by the Government and obtained by
Nairalaw, the Governor noted that the unnecessary attacks
being melted out against security agencies would no longer be
tolerated, as such attacks would be considered as attacks on the
state.

Governor Obiano also used the opportunity to warn members of
cult groups in the state to henceforth ‘shun cultism and embrace
meaningful lifestyles’

See details of the address below:

ADDRESS BY THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF ANAMBRA STATE
ON THE SECURITY SITUATION IN THE STATE.

I wish to use this moment to update all citizens and residents
in Anambra State with the recent happenings in the State and
ongoing efforts by Government and security agencies to handle the
situation.

Within the past week or so, we have witnessed what obviously is
a planned and targeted attack on Security personnel and facilities
in the State by armed hoodlums.

So far, Police Officers and Navy personnel on official duties at
strategic checkpoints in various locations in the State were
sporadically attacked, killed and their firearms taken away. Also,
prison and police personnel conveying an inmate to court were
equally attacked and killed.

This morning, a Police outpost was attacked unsuccessfully as
joint Police,vigilante and Community efforts repelled the
attackers.

Anambra State Government categorically condemns these attacks on
our security personnel and is doing everything possible to
apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

Since these attacks commenced, I have personally coordinated
security Commanders in the State with a joint effort to halt this
mayhem and by God’s, we will surely succeed. The State security
Council has met twice and I summoned another emergency meeting this
afternoon hence my address.

Let me emphatically state that any attacks on security personnel
in Anambra is a direct attack on the State itself and will be
resisted with our greatest might. Those who attack us are
obviiously intent on distorting the peace and security we have
enjoyed in Anambra State in the past seven years and we will not
allow that.

We have received massive Police, Army, Navy and DSS deployment
since yesterday and they have joined their teams on ground to
enforce security.

I have therefore directed all security agencies in the State,
the Vigilante Services, all task forces and every structure in the
State security infrastructure to rise in defence of our dear
state.

I call on all youths in Anambra State, all communities, all
market task forces and indeed every outfit in this State to
duty.

All traditional rulers, PGs, community leaders as well as every
stakeholder in Anambra to rise to protect our State.

As your Governor, I hereby raise the security alert in the State
and I commit to restoring order and security immediately.

I call on everybody irrespective of affiliations to come
together and support Government and security agencies to fight our
common enemy. Those who seek to destroy what we have laboured to
build must not be tolerated in any manner. I ask the public to help
with information and intelligence to the State to nip this
situation in the bud.

Going forward, extensive security activities will be obvious and
by God’s grace we shall overcome. Fitted Tinted glasses on vehicles
as well as covered plate numbers will no longer be allowed on all
roads within the State. Security agencies will be conducting
special and strategic operations aimed at neutralising the emerging
threats to our collective safety.

I therefore ask for the understanding of the public as this goes
on and assure you that all law abiding citizens have nothing to
worry about.

While I sympathise with the security agencies and families of
those killed in these recent attacks, i urge all those involved in
ongoing security efforts not to relent. The Police, military and
all security agencies and outfits in the State are urged to step
out in full boldness to reclaim the public space, dominate the
streets, confront criminals when identified and urgently restore
order and safety to Anambra State!

CULTISM AND TOUTING.

Ndi Anambra, also saturating the media waves is a horryifying
video of the killing and beheading of an alleged cultist by members
of a viral cult group. This is most despicable and a terrible
act.

I wish to inform Anambra citizens and residents in the State
that the Police has arrested three principal suspects and on the
heels of their accomplices. They shall all face the full wrath of
the law.

I have ordered a clampdown on all cultists and their activities.
This state shall no longer tolerate the violence that erupts now
and then in the name of cultism. Those who try our will in this
regard will have themselves to blame! I urge all youths in the
State to shun cultism and embrace meaningful lifestyles.

In the same vein, all kinds of touting in the State in whatever
guise especially in Onitsha will no longer be tolerated. Security
agencies are hereby directed to arrest anybody hanging on the road
with sticks and molesting innocent citizens, drivers etc. The
madness must stop.

KIDNAP AND MURDER OF PG OMOR.

I must also inform the public of the recent kidnap of the
President General of Omor Community in Ayamelum local govt area and
his murder by the kidnappers.

My heart goes out to the family of the late PG and the Omor
community in general.

When the incident occurred, Govt in collaboration with the
Police and the community youths made sustained efforts to rescue
him alive. Unfortunately, his abductors killed him in the forest
and fled.

It took efforts by the Police to recover his body after an
extensive search exercise.

Let me assure all Omor people that the Government and security
agencies are doing everything to apprehend the kidnappers with a
few arrests made already. Massive security deployment will also be
strategically made along the Ayamelum axis to stop further
incursions by criminals.

I therefore urge you to remain calm as we are handling the
situation.

Finally, let me restate the call for collective efforts by all
Anambra people to defend our State against these recent attacks on
security personnel and formations as this is the only solution to
forestall criminality.

We cannot allow our security achievements and status as the
safest state in Nigeria to be compromised at all.

I urge all Anambra people and residents in the State to come
together, support Government and security agencies so that we can
fight and win the war.

I assure you all that I am on top of the situation and that we
shall very soon surmount this challenge.

Thank you and God bless.

Long live Anambra State,
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.