By Izunna Okafor, Awka
In continuation of the ongoing strategic operation aimed at stamping out threats to public peace, the Police-led Joint Security Team in Anambra State, on Monday, April 7, 2025, intensified patrol and show-of-force exercises across key locations in the state, particularly in Ihiala and Nnewi—two areas previously known for heavy compliance to illegal sit-at-home orders.
The security operation, which was a massive collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force, Army (302 Artillery Regiment), Navy, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and the Anambra State Vigilante Group, saw heavily armed operatives storm the targeted locations with patrol vans, armoured vehicles, and other tactical equipment.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the patrol is part of a broader effort by the state’s Joint Security Task Force to dismantle the grip of criminal elements and instill public confidence in the safety of lives and properties. With picture evidences, he added that Residents of Nnewi and Ihiala who had previously cowered indoors on Mondays due to fear of attacks, were seen opening shops, commuting, and engaging in their normal daily routines—an encouraging sign of return to normalcy.
While commending the growing defiance of residents against the illegal sit-at-home directive, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu fwc, MNIPS, PhD, lauded the people of Awka and Onitsha for leading the charge in restoring economic activity and public movement on Mondays.
He specifically praised the resilience and patriotism of stakeholders in those areas—including bus drivers’ unions, traders, and market leaders—who have taken a strong stand against forces seeking to destabilize the region’s economy through fear and coercion.
He reaffirmed the Joint Security Force’s commitment to sustaining the tempo of operations, noting that efforts are underway to ensure similar transformation and liberation in all parts of the state. He encouraged citizens to go about their lawful businesses and to continue partnering with security agencies to report any suspicious activities.
The patrol operation elicited positive reactions from residents and netizens, many of whom expressed relief and gratitude for the visible presence of security operatives, which gave them the confidence to resume their normal activities without fear.
Reactions from social media suggest that with each successive operation, the state appears to be gaining ground in its war against criminality, especially the now-weakened sit-at-home enforcers, who seem to have lost the capacity to operate in the face of relentless security pressure.
Some netizens have also hailed the present Anambra security architecture as one that continues to set a strong example in reclaiming public space and reviving economic activities, even as authorities reassure that no stone will be left unturned in restoring lasting peace and normalcy across all communities.
