Security: Soludo Imposes Curfew On Anambra

As part of his plans to combat insecurity, the Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has imposed a curfew in Anambra State.

Announcing the curfew on Wednesday evening in a state broadcast in Awka, the governor said it will commence on Thursday from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am.

He said, “With effect from tomorrow, Thursday, 26th May 2022, a 6 pm to 6 am curfew is hereby placed on motorcycles (okada), tricycles (keke), and shuttle buses in the 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.

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“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 outrightly in the state.”

The governor also directed landowners and communities to take charge of their property and ensure that no property was used by criminals as camps or hideouts.

“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 purposes.

He warned that the government will take over any land occupied by criminal elements if they are not reported by the community.

“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.

He urged the youths in the state to join the government in the fight against insecurity and charged community vigilante groups to put in more effort to thwart the activities of arsonists.

“The state government expects the report of any progress made in this regard and shall support and reward you accordingly,” the governor said.