- Anambra state has being going through security challenges lately, leading to the formation of the Agunechemba security outfit
- Intersociety Group accuses the security outfit of extortion, extrajudicial killings in the state
- Soludo defends Agunechemba, says those against the security outfit are accomplices of kidnappings, killings in the state
For over two years now, the Anambra state has been going through tough security challenges.
The current security challenges in the state could be said to be reminiscent of that of 1999-2003 when criminal elements from both within and outside the state held the state by jugular, collapsing all security architecture in the state.
Like in 1999/2003 during the administration of Chinwoke Mbadinuju of blessed memory, the security situation in the state was so much appalling that many local and international investors avoided the state like a plague, bringing the economic development of the state to the lowest ebb.
Introduction of Bakassi boys
However, as the state continued to pass through security challenges, the administration of Dr. Mbadinuju took the bull by the horn and introduced local security outfit called Bakassi boys.
WITHIN NIGERIA findings showed that with Bakassi boys just like the new security outfit Agunechemba, there was a huge harvest of security success.
Criminal elements in their numbers who could not withstand the heat of Bakassi boys ran away from the state.
Many also dared the Bakassi boys to their peril as they ended up being slaughtered like chickens.
Those who aided and abetted crimes in the state were also annihilated.
The operation of Bakassi boys were so much crude, rude and raw that attracted huge public outcry and backlash.
Some perceived criminal elements were executed in public places in the full view of teenagers, adult and children in so crude method of beheading.
Suspects were not taken to any judicial system to defend themselves. They were killed like ants, sometimes in the full view of their relations.
The alleged impunity with which Bakassi boys carried out their operation was so much unbreakable that it took the intervention of Federal government to disband the outfit.
Many notable Anambra state citizens including the popular Prophet Eddy Nangwwu lost their lives to the alleged extrajudicial killings by the Bakassi Boys.
However, with its disbandment, the state was left with no formidable security outfit, leading to gradual collapse of security in the area.
Formation of Ebubeagu security outfit in South East
In April 2021, following the high level of insecurity in the south East zone, the five governors that made up the zone came together to deliberate on how to end the menace.
After days of deliberation and brainstorming, Ebubeagu security outfit was birthed.
WITHIN NIGERIA findings showed that though the five governors agreed to integrate their local Vigilantee into Ebubeagu security outfit, it actually never happened in Anambra state.
The state continued to make use of local Vigilantee to curb local crimes like kidnapping, killing, armed robbery and other crimes.
It was successful at a point but two years ago, the security architecture of the state became overwhelmed as a result of growing criminal elements in the state.
Establishment of Agunechemba
According to the Anambra state Home land security 2025 which established Agunechemba security outfit, the functions of the outfit is among other things to secure the state from criminal elements. The security was thus birthed in January 2025.
The document which was obtained by our reporter stated that ”
The functions of Agunechemba shall be to assist the Nigeria Police and any other security agency to:(a) prevent and detect crimes;(b)make available relevant information on criminals;(c)take necessary measures to ensure that criminals do not operate in any part of the State;(d)preserve law and order;(e)protect lives and properties;
(f)arrest criminals and hand them over to police for investigation; and(g) give further assistance to the police where required in the production of witnesses.
The Agunechemba shall have powers to:(a)arrest and handover to the police, any person who commits crime;(b) patrol the streets or villages at any time of the day;
(c)maintain security barricades in appropriate places;(d)question and handover to the police any person of questionable character or of suspicious movement;
(e)enter and search any compound into which a questionable person runs while being pursued ; and(f) form special forces or squads for the purpose of
tackling kidnapping, banditry, consumption of illicit drugs, cultism, robbery and any other violent crimes in the State Composition,
6.The composition, structure and administration of the central structure and
command of Agunechemba as well as the terms and Administration conditions of service of members, and staff at the said central command shall be as determined by the Governor from time to time.”
The law further stated that “Any person operating any private security outfit or
Security Companies company in the State shall after complying with other laws for the setting up of the said entity, register with the State Government in the manner prescribed by the State, the particulars of the company and all armed security operatives employed or deployed by them in any part of the State.
“The Governor or other department or office in charge of security in the State may make regulations to be complied with by the private security outfits or their operatives in order to ensure synergy and avoid security conflicts in the operation of those security
operatives and members of Agunechemba.”
Accusations against Agunechemba
Few weeks after the establishment of Agunechemba, it is increasingly becoming clear that the new security outfit may as well go the way of its predecessor, Bakassi boys.
WITHIN NIGERIA investigations showed that there has been growing criticism, accusation of extortion and extrajudicial killings by the Agunechemba.
A civil rights group, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, Intersociety, has claimed that the new security outfit is into illegality in the state.
The latest accusation is coming days after the organisation also accused the security outfit of killing no less than 40 persons extra-judicially since its establishment.
In a statement made available to WITHIN NIGERIA recently by the group, it claimed that its field officers discovered operatives of the Agunechemba extorting N200 from motorists at various checkpoints.
The statement which was signed by Chinwe Umeche, Head, Democracy and Good Governance Program, Intersociety, Chidinma Evangeline Udegbunam, Head, Campaign and Publicity, Obianuju Joy Igboeli, Head, Civil Liberties and Rule of Law and Emeka Umeagbalasi, Board Chair, stated that there is urgent need to overhaul the system.
The report read thus; “the incurable bane of the personnel of the Nigeria Police force and the Armed Forces (military) on Nigerian roads, particularly across the South-East and the South-South have been spotted and identified as one of the modus operandi of the operatives of the newly renamed Agunaechemba Vigilante Group, to the extent that such were recently spotted by the Intersociety field volunteers in at least five different locations along Nnobi, Ichida, Awka-Etiti, Igboukwu, Uga and Umuchu road axis.
“The checks specifically took place between January 30 and 31, 2025, during which the operatives of the new dreaded outfit were sighted mounting roadblocks and forcing motorists to part with N200 notes per motorist/per trip.
“The security implications of such corrupt practices on crime detection and apprehension of suspected criminals and their criminal properties are very far-reaching.
“Apart from exposing Government inadequate welfare packages for members of the new outfit and glaring lack of discipline and command and control accountability, they can also facilitate an escape route for persons of under-world as it is anything goes once each motorist is forced to part with N200 note, not minding who or what the motorist is plying on the road with.”
Questioning the modus operandi of the group, Intersociety said “apart from demolishing buildings which has no place in the country’s Criminal Code Act of 2004, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act of 2015 and the country’s 1999 Constitution, their operations have also been mired in guesswork, false labeling, hearsay conclusions, indiscriminate killings such as killing of unarmed and defenseless persons; abductions and disappearances of those arrested alive and hale and hearty and those critically shot and wounded.”
“A typical case in point was the February 6, 2025-killing of the trio of defenseless Artisan-Citizens Malachy Chimaobi Iwuanyanwu and Odinkalu Chinonso of Umueze in Ehime-Mbano of Imo State and Citizen Kosisochukwu of Isuofia, Gov Soludo’s hometown in Aguata, Anambra State.
“Their killing took place in Owerre-Ezukala in Orumba South of Anambra State, during which not less than 12 others were abducted, stripped half naked and falsely labeled or accused of ‘being involved in kidnappings and ritual killings’.
“Among the abducted defenseless citizens in the community were three NYSC Corpers abducted at the Community’s NYSC Camp and a deformed, later freed after having been threatened and traumatized following outcries by their colleagues and locals,” it further alleged.
The Intersociety Group declared that the re-enacted Anambra State Vigilante Group (AVG) Law 2025 “is a clear replication of the barbaric AVG Law of July 2000 (Bakassi Boys Law) under which the butchery eras of ‘OTA and Bakassi Boys’ existed and later used in 2002 to gruesomely murder then Onitsha NBA Chairman, Barr Barnabas Igwe and his wife, Barr Mrs. Amaka Igwe and other notable political figures and thousands of other innocent and defenseless citizens, from September 1998 to September 2002.”
“The re-enacted AVG Law 2025 is clearly abusive of fundamental human rights, due process and rule of law and repugnant to natural justice and good conscience.
“In practice, therefore, it is most likely correct to say that the referenced Law is targeted at victimizing innocent and defenseless citizens and shielding and protecting members of the violent criminal class including perpetrators and their sponsors and suspected criminal properties.
“The above is to say that no troublesome billionaires, circumstantially investigated and found to be sponsoring kidnappings ravaging Anambra State in recent times have been identified, investigated and prosecuted; meaning that it is either that they are politically connected to the State Government or are roundly protected by the conventional security agencies within and beyond the State.
“The above also strongly suggests, if not clearly confirms that 90% of those indiscriminately shot and killed or abducted and detained outside the law or disappeared across the State by the new dreaded outfit, the police crack squads and the military are members of the innocent and defenseless civilian population,” Intersociety alleged.
Gov. Soludo defends Agunechemba
The governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, has described those condemning the Agunechemba security outfit as supporters and accomplices of kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminals in the state. Soludo said this yesterday at the funeral mass for the late Justice Azuka, the slain Labour Party (LP) member, who represented Onitsha 1 Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly.
According to him, “They murdered Justice and we will give them justice. No two ways about it. We are so shocked by the way the youths of these days are taking human lives. Many people have in the past been kidnapped and ransoms were paid and they were released. But youths of these days kidnap and kill their victims even when they have collected ransom.
“We must condemn what they are doing and it must stop. We will not allow them to continue the wickedness. Some people are condemning the security outfit we set up, and even calling me names. But we don’t care about what they are saying.
“Anambra must be secured to be the most secured state in Nigeria. The people condemning the Agunechemba security are the people who celebrate those working with kidnappers and armed robbers who terrorise us. We are not against traditional worship because there is freedom of religion in our constitution. But if you are preparing charms and doing other fetish things to protect kidnappers and armed robbers, we will never allow you to operate here.
“The kidnappers have crossed the line and we are after them now.I must doff my heart for the Asagba of Asagba, Prof. Epiphany Azinge who has responded to what we are doing in Anambra State.
“Immediately he discovered that these criminals we are chasing out from Anambra are moving into Asaba, he read his own riot act to them that Asaba will not accommodate them. And he has set machinery in motion to check crime in Asaba. That is what a good traditional ruler should do. I want our Anambra traditional rulers to emulate him.”
