It is widely acknowledged today that Anambra is the safest state in Nigeria. Since March 17, 2014, when Governor Willie Obiano came on board, armed robbery and kidnapping have almost been eradicated, save a few incidences of pick pocketing and phone snatching in some areas.
However, a deluge of good news emanate from the state nowadays. With the existence of water tight security, Ndi Anambra recently witnessed the happiest yuletide ever. That was not the case before Akpokuedike came on board. Before the advent of his administration, the state was the den of most dreaded armed robbers and kidnappers in the country.
Consequently, the state experienced serious divestments, while many prominent Ndi Anambra hardly returned home for the funeral of their relatives, traditional marriages and other religious or socio-cultural activities. Armed robbers and kidnappers were so daring to the extent that they brazenly attacked, captured and murdered their victims. Indeed, the criminals rampaged Anambra with impunity.
Despite the efforts of previous administrations in the state to stem the ugly trend, it refused to go away until Governor Obiano came on board. In fact, no single case of bank robbery has occurred since he took the reins of power about seven years ago. There has also not been any incidence of successful kidnapping in Anambra state since Akpokuedike became the governor of Anambra state.
Just as the prompt rescue by security agencies of two catholic priests, abducted around Umuleri, in less than twenty-four hours after their kidnap some years back, kidnapping has virtually been eliminated in Anambra state. The hot chase given to the criminals compelled them to release the priests unharmed and ran away. Same with the case of the leader of a kidnap gang, who, about two years ago, was apprehended inside the airplane he had already boarded for an escape flight to South Africa. That impressive interception was as a result of the network of Obiano’s security architecture, facilitated by CCTV, security helicopters hovering the air, drone cameras in addition to other discreet technologies unknown to the uninitiated.
The present superlative security architecture of Anambra state was established immediately Governor Obiano came on board during his first tenure in 2014. Notwithstanding his administration’s socio-economic blue print known as the four pillars development, anchored on Mechanized Agriculture, Oil and Gas, Trade and Commerce in addition to Industrialization plus their twelve enablers, the state government, in two periods that year, organized Security Summits in Awka, which involved Israeli security experts and relevant statutory security agencies in Nigeria.
The Summits came up with a formula to bring violent crimes and criminality to the barest minimum in Anambra and her neighbouring states. With the provision of the necessary logistical support in a sustainable manner by Governor Obiano, the Anambra State security infrastructure has become the most efficacious in the country.
This development is inspired by the fact that Governor Obiano is an ardent stickler for the principle that protection of life and property is the most important reason why governments exist. Many security experts believe that if some governments in Nigeria had adopted the Obiano Approach on security matters, the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency and acts of terrorism in some parts of the country would have either been totally eradicated or drastically reduced.
DR. NNAMDI NWDIOGBU
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