Concerns have intensified over the disappearance of approximately 19 pump-action guns reportedly donated to the local vigilante security team in the Awada community, located in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
According to Punch, the guns went missing during the handover of the community’s security equipment to a newly appointed security outfit.
The situation led to a minor commotion at the community town hall on Sunday when community leaders, including newly-elected President-General Patrick Oyeduba and executive members, discovered that out of the 27 pump-action guns donated to the outgoing local vigilante, only eight were handed over, with the remaining 19 unaccounted for.
The transfer of security items, such as the pump-action guns, vehicles, motorcycles, and other security gadgets, was overseen by a police team from the Area Command in Ogidi, led by Inspector Hyginus Giwonke.
In April, the community elected new executive members for the landlord association, with Oyeduba becoming the new President-General of the Awada Landlord Association.
Speaking to journalists after the handover, Oyeduba explained that the leadership change necessitated a comprehensive overhaul of the area’s security structure to enhance safety.
He said, “Today, our community is changing its security architecture and personnel. A new security outfit under the Nigeria Police Community Policing led by Commander Jude Akachukwu has taken over today.
This development became necessary because we want to fortify the security in the area by bringing in new personnel who will be loyal to the new leadership of the community.
“In the past, we had lots of security concerns even though we had the local vigilante security team in place. In the last dispensation, the community witnessed many reported cases of stealing, kidnapping, burglary, armed robberies and attacks carried out by hoodlums around the community. This shows that the security on the ground then was not active and it became necessary for us as the new leadership to make the required change.
Oyeduba, while lamenting over the missing guns, said an official report would be made about the worrisome development.
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