By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Community Security, Mr. Ken Emeakayi, has debunked the trending media reports that purportedly quoted him as referring to members of Agụnechemba security operatives in Anambra as armed robbers and criminals.
Speaking to journalists in Awka, Mr. Emeakayi described such reports as a gross misrepresentation of his statement, clarifying that what he said was that any member of the outfit who abandons their mandate and engages in extortion or illegal acts would be treated as a criminal
He further dismissed such reports as misleading and quoted out of context, insisting that his statement was aimed at cautioning erring personnel, not condemning the entire outfit, as being portrayed in some sections of the media.
Emeakayi expressed disappointment over the misrepresentation of his words in some sections of the media. While acknowledging to have received reports of some personnel of the outfit allegedly extorting or collecting bribes from road users and passersby, he maintained that such actions are never tolerated or sanctioned by the government, but, however, re-emphasized that he never, as a result of that, referred to members of Agụnechemba as armed robbers and criminals.
“What I said is very clear,” he stressed, adding that: “If any officer abandons their duty and uses their position or arm to extort money from innocent citizens while armed, then such a person will be regarded and treated as an armed robber. But that doesn’t mean to say that the entire outfit is criminal or is full of criminal elements.”
Shedding more light on the operational structure of Agụnechemba and Operation Udo Ga-Achị, Emeakayi reiterated that the outfit does not operate conventional checkpoints but rather have ‘pin-down’ locations at designated and strategic places, with strict guidelines and operational policies. These strategic spots, he explained, are designed to screen individuals, to identify criminal elements, and not to intimidate, extort or exploit the public.
The Homeland Security Chief reiterated that the core mandate of Agụnechemba is to support existing law enforcement agencies in safeguarding lives and property in the state, which is held in high esteem by the Governor Chukwuma Soludo Administration. He said genuine businessmen and law-abiding citizens have no reason to fear the operatives, assuring them of protection and support.
He also used the opportunity to reaffirm the credibility of the recruitment process for the security outfit, while also acknowledging the possibility of infiltration by bad eggs, as is the case with all human institutions. He noted that the government has mechanisms in place for routine profiling and re-evaluation of the operatives to identify and weed out such elements.
“There is no perfect system anywhere. Even conventional security agencies experience infiltration. The important thing is that we have a mechanism to detect and eliminate such threats,” he said.
Mr. Emeakayi revealed that the state government is currently organizing another round of training and retraining for members of the outfit, with further profiling measures underway to ensure only qualified and disciplined operatives remain in the system.
In a bid to enhance transparency and accountability, Emeakayi released his personal phone number to the public, encouraging citizens to report any abuse or misconduct by operatives. He assured that such reports would be taken seriously and addressed promptly.
He also provided detailed distinctions between the various levels of the Agụnechemba network, explaining that the security network operates in three tiers—community, local government, and state levels—all under the Homeland Security architecture. According to him, while community units of Agụnechemba mostly use Sienna vehicles, the local government units operate with branded Tacomas, and the state command uses fully-branded Sienna vehicles with emblems and call center numbers imprinted on them. He advised citizens to take note of vehicle types and their inscriptions when filing reports.
“These identifiers help us know exactly which unit an erring officer belongs to, and ensure prompt disciplinary action. I urge citizens to take note of these details and always report with clarity,” he added.
Emeakayi warned that some unscrupulous individuals impersonate security outfit using fake uniforms and vehicles, citing a tragic incident at a burial ceremony in Ihiala where such impersonators infiltrated and mixed up with the security team on duty at the place and attacked them from behind. He emphasized that the government is aware of such strategies and is seriously working ahead of criminals to block such infiltration.
He assured Anambra residents that measures such as unified vehicle branding, centralized command systems, and profiling are all in place to tighten the security structure, prevent abuse, and enhance public confidence.
While acknowledging that the new security outfit may not have performed up to the high expectations of Ndị Anambra, Emeakayi, however attested that the outfit has come a long way and performed creditably, judging from the security situation of the State before the outfit was created and the current situation now within few months of their operation. He further assured that the outfit will definitely meet and exceed the expectations of Ndị Anambra and reposition the state to its pride as the safest state in Nigeria.
Emeakayi concluded by calling on Ndi Anambra to remain vigilant, support and cooperate with the security agencies for a safer state. He reiterated Governor Soludo’s administration’s commitment to zero tolerance for corruption and criminality within the system.
“As far as you are a genuine person with legitimate business in Anambra, you have absolutely nothing to fear. But if you are a criminal, kidnapper, or robber, this state will remain both unsafe and a nightmare for you,” he concluded.
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