Awka was Agog on Friday as the candidate of the Young Progressive Party – YPP in the November Governorship election in Anambra State, Sir Paul Chukwuma joined thousands of residents on a peaceful march against the intimidation and abuse meted out to Ndi Anambra by operatives of Udogachi and SASA through misuse of governmental authority.
Udogachi, a security outfit created by the Soludo-led Government and the SASA, an anti-touting agency otherwise known as Ndi Akodo, which is notorious for using pestles on citizens, have come under intense scrutiny owing to the numerous clips of their abuses against the people.
In the past week, operatives of Udogachi have come under serious criticism for manhandling a young girl who is a serving youth corps member in Oba, Idemili South LGA of Anambra State.
During the peaceful march against the brutality of Udogachi and SASA, which was organized by Make Anambra Great Again (MAKA), the YPP Governorship candidate regretted that the governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, would allow agencies of the State established to serve the people to become instruments of operation against the same people. “Anambra is not in a good place today. It affects all of us. We are determined to fix our state,” Paul Chukwuma said while addressing a large crowd at Eke Awka market.
The peaceful march, which commenced from Aroma Junction in Awka, terminated at the Anambra State Police Headquarters in Amawbia, where the group was received by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Ibrahim Ezekiel. At the Anambra State Police Command’s office, Sir Paul Chukwuma addressed the DCP and listed some of the reasons for the peaceful march, which include the abuse meted out to innocent citizens by Udogachi and SASA. He also called on the police to rise up to their responsibilities, while assuring them of support from Ndi Anambra. “The responsibility placed on the government in terms of protection of lives and properties is well spelt out in the constitution. In Anambra today, we are experiencing what is a negation of the position of the law. We know the agencies of government that are saddled with the responsibility of ensuring law and order in our state. Anambra State is still part of Nigeria as a sub-national entity. We are experiencing something that has never happened in the history of Anambra Stae with what is happening today, we are beginning to wonder if the Nigerian Police Force has abdicated their responsibility and duty to Ndi Anambra. Today, we have experienced a litany of what we call an aberration to the protocol of such organization and agency (Udogachi and SASA). A lot of heinous crimes are being perpetrated in Anambra State by the so-called security outfit Udogachi. We don’t have anything against establishing such an outfit. But we are of the opinion that such outfits, when established, must abide by the rule of law,” Chukwuma said.
Reacting, DCP Ibrahim Ezekiel, who stood in for the Commissioner of Police, assured Paul Chukwuma and the group that the issues raised would be addressed by working with all stakeholders.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Nkem Mbonu, the group’s coordinator, said that the group had articulated three clear demands from their engagements with the people of Anambra State. The demands include: an investigation into cases of missing persons in Anambra State. Secondly, an investigation into the alleged secret cells of Udogachi in Awka and Onitsha. Finally, the assumption of full security of the state by the police, as well as the disbandment of SASA.
The walk, which covered about seven kilometers, was well received by thousands of Anambra residents, who expressed their disapproval of the modus operandi of Udogachi and SASA operatives.
