Ifeanyi Ubah, a senator from Anambra South Senatorial District, gave neighbourhood vigilante groups in Nnewi, Anambra State, over 100 walkie-talkies, 14 Toyota Sienna cars, 40 motorcycles, and other security equipment on Monday.
Ubah claimed that the act was a component of attempts to arm, bolster, and empower local security personnel so they may better combat the growing instability in Nnewi and its surroundings.
This occurs just six months after gunmen ambushed the senator’s convoy in the Enugwu-Ukwu community in the state’s Njikoka Local Government Area, killing a number of his security personnel.
He said, “The time has gone when armed robbers and criminals will be harassing law-abiding citizens in Nnewi and its environs. This time around, criminals will no longer have their normal field day both inside the bush and in the towns.
“We will employ men and women of sound character to work at the security control room from where the movement of people in and around the communities will be monitored through a Close Circuit Television network. The walkie-talkies are to enhance communication between the security network. The vehicles are to help in security patrol.”
The Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Security, Air Vice Marshal Ben Chiobi (retd.), and the Anambra State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Chief Chikaodi Anara, praised Senator Ubah for starting the security fortification through his Nnewi Concerned Citizens initiative, a programme they said is in line with Soludo’s efforts to make Anambra a liveable and secure state.
Anara and Chiobi pointed out that Soludo’s administration is eager to control criminal elements and bring the state back to a situation of peace and security where law-abiding citizens would feel free to conduct their regular business without being bothered.
The highlight of the event was the distribution of torches, machetes, walkie-talkies, raincoats, and envelopes containing various sums of money to all the vigilante commanders and their operatives from the four quarters of Nnewi, including Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim and Nnewi-Ichi.
