- Governor Soludo unveils Homeland Security Law
By Ekong Utip
In a major attempt to arrest an upsurge of crime in Anambra State, Governor Chukwuma Soludo has unveiled the “Anambra Homeland Security Law 2025″ and launched a special security operation code-named “Operation Udo Ga-Achi”.
The governor, who signed the Homeland Security Law 2025 today (Saturday, Jan. 18), stated that the law provides a framework for community/citizens’ ownership and participation in sustainable security and social re-engineering.
Details of the new programme are contained in a press statement issued by the state’s commissioner for information, Dr Law Mefor.
“Operation Udo Ga-Achi” is a special intervention force that complements regular policing, and is designed to upscale intelligence gathering, reward whistleblowers, enhance rapid response, and urgently root out criminals from every camp in Anambra State,” said the governor, noting that the security challenges facing the state are complex and hydra-headed and requires a comprehensive and sustainable response. He emphasized that the state government is determined to fight criminality and ensure that Anambra becomes the safest state in Nigeria.
Key components of the Anambra Homeland Security Law 2025 include:
*Establishment of a new vigilante architecture, Agunechemba, to assist and complement federal security forces
*Deployment of technology, including tracking systems, command-and-control systems, and AI-powered surveillance cameras
*Establishment of a State Call Centre with toll-free lines
“Payment of monthly security support grants to communities
*Payment of a monthly bonus of N10 million to Divisional Police Offices that record zero violent crimes
Governor Soludo also announced that the state government would review assistance to existing correctional centres and embark on building new ones. He further stated that the government will work with the commissioner of police and DSS to identify top LGAs with violent crime histories.
He called on communities to set up security governance structures urgently and encouraged each to design and execute its own “cleansing or restoration programme”.
He also reiterated the state government’s extension of hand of friendship and amnesty to kidnappers, cultists, drug dealers, and other categories of criminals, urging them to surrender their arms and embrace rehabilitation.
The governor emphasized that security is a collective responsibility and called on all citizens to support the efforts of the state government in ensuring the safety and security of Anambra State.
***
An excerpt from the state Security Law 2025:
Clause 18: Offences on use of supernatural powers
1. Any person who under the practice of “Okeite” or “Eze Nwanyi” or under any other guise administers any substance or charm on or for any other person for the purpose of commission of any offence or for the purpose of accumulation of wealth by supernatural means other than by any known lawful means of livelihood, or who publicly propagates the accumulation of such wealth other than by any known lawful means of livelihood, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 6 years with an option of fine of 20 million naira or both.
2. Any person who performs any sacrifice or dumps on any road or throws into any water body in the state any charms, substance or items of sacrifice in furtherance of the commission of any offence, under subsection 1 of this section, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 6 years with an option of fine of 20 million naira or both.
3. Any person who misleads the public by purporting to wield any supernatural powers which he is found not to possess, or who obtains any reward from any person in furtherance thereof, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 6 years with an option of fine of 20 million naira or both.
4. For the purpose of ascertaining whether or not a person possesses the natural powers under subsection 3 of this section, any such person suspected of misleading the public under subsection 3 of this section shall, at the stage of investigation, be subjected to proof that he possesses such powers.
5. An investigation made by the police in respect of any offence under this section shall be forwarded to the Attorney-General of the State for review and advice before the prosecution of any person suspected of having committed the offence.
Clause 19: Offences involving the use of religious place
1. Any person who uses any religious place for the commission or to aid the commission of any crime commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 6 years with an option of fine of 20 million naira or both.
2. Any religious place suspected of being used to commit or aid the commission of any crime may be sealed by the order of the governor pending the conclusion of investigation.
3. If after the conclusion of investigation, there exists a prima facie case of the commission or aiding the commission of any crime in such place, any person found culpable shall be charged to court.
4. Where a person is charged to court under this section, the property or place involved shall be sealed, except unsealed by the order of the governor, remain sealed until the determination of the charge or unless otherwise ordered by the court.
Clause 20: Offences
involving human parts
Any person who performs or requires of any person the performance of any rituals involving human parts commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 25 years without an option of fine.
#
