Maduako Igbokwe l Friday, April 08, 2022
ONITSHA, Nigeria – Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo has stated that Anambra people will never allow criminal elements to take over the state. He said restoring peace and setting the pace for the building of a liveable and prosperous homeland in Anambra state is not negotiable.
Soludo made statement on Friday when he visited the headquarters of Aguata Local government Area in Ekwulobia burnt by gunmen on Thursday.
According to him, anyone in the bush with a gun is a criminal and would be fiercely resisted by the people. He said the attack on the secretariat was only a reprisal by criminal elements, whose camps were on the same day stormed by security agencies, and most of them were arrested.
According to him, none of the arrested suspect is from Anambra state, noting that they all came from neighbouring states. He said that the camp where they operate to kidnap has been there for over one year and we are aware it.
“Yesterday (Thursday), security operatives smoked out some criminals camped at Ogboji and Aguluezechukwu, and the reprisal is the burning of Aguata LGA Headquarters by some of the fleeing criminals.
“Part of the items found in these criminal hideouts are register of kidnapped victims and the ransom paid. This is not who we are, never can we, under any guise allow criminals the latitude to define who we are.
“Ndi Anambra are responsible. They are out to reclaim their land. To restore peace, and set the pace for the building of a liveable and prosperous homeland. I repeat, anyone in the bush with a gun is a criminal and would be fiercely resisted by the people, ”he said
According to the Governor , government has extended the olive branch to all genuine agitators, and made extensive calls for those in the bush to come out and shun criminality.
“How do you explain to any sane mind that “responsible citizens” have elected to pursue a supposed legitimate course by adopting criminal strategies of kidnapping, arson and murder? This is despicable, not permissible and against any known law of humanity,”he said
He said that 85 percent of those arrested on Thursday in their hideout are from a state in the South east, while the remaining 15 percent are from another state in the same zone, noting that there was no Anambra indigene among them.
Recall that Aguata local government secretariat was razed by gunmen, including shops and vehicles parked in the premises.
