Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra state says efforts by his administration to end criminality in the state has paid off.
The governor disclosed this in Awka, the state’s capital saying that the “See something, say something” campaign launched after he came to office has helped to bursts criminal gangs in the state.
Soludo who explained efforts being made by his government to end the weekly Sit-at-home by some elements in the IPOB in the south east has also yielded results, saying criminal gangs masquerading as pro-secessionists are losing the fight.
The state is one of the five south east states where Simon Ekpa, one of IPOB leaders have imposed Sit-at-home, which many Nigerians say is destroying the economy of the region.
Trillions of Naira is estimated to have be lost since the secessionist group imposed Sit-at-home to press home their demand for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the embattled leader of IPOB..
Speaking on Twitter on Sunday, Governor Soludo explained what his government has done so far to end IPOB Sit-at-home, and end criminality.
According to him, “When we assumed office on the 17th of March, about nine local government areas (LGAs) were no-go areas. Criminals seized them. People were being killed and kidnapped every day.
“We tackled it head on and today we have liberated about 70 to 80 percent of them. Those camps have been destroyed.
“Occasionally, remnants of them come out to cause trouble but we are getting better by the day.
“We are also dealing with agberoes (touts). Anambra is a place where youths flock from various parts of the country.
“Some of them get into the markets and parks and unleash mayhem on the people. We are unrelenting in fighting this and it is getting better.
“The Monday sit-at-home is virtually non-existent, especially in urban centres like Awka and environs.
“The occasional ones where they give week-long sit-at-home, nobody is obeying it anymore.”
The sit-at-home exercise was first declared in 2021 by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to demand the release of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, but it was later hijacked by criminals.
Few days ago, Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, NSA, met with the five state governors in the south east in Abuja, with a view to ending insecurity in the region.
