Insecurity: Gov. Soludo launches  “Operation  Udo Ga achi’ to combat kidnaping

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

In his bid to restore the lost glory of Anambra State and make it safe for residents, Governor Chukwuma Soludo, weekend, launched “Operation Udo GA- Achi” to combat the menace of kidnaping .

The launch, which took place at the International Convention Center, Awka, was attended by top government functionaries, security agencies, traditional rulers, captains of industries and stakeholders.

 The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC Anambra State Command, was represented by its State Commandant, Mr. Maku Olatunde and other senior officers and men.

Operation Udo ga Achi, which translates to “Peace shall prevail”, is a groundbreaking security initiative designed to safeguard the lives and well-being of all residents and visitors in Anambra State. 

This special force with about 2,000 personnel drawn from the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy,  Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the new vigilante architecture group ( Agunechemba)  and  other ‘special forces’ will be active in all nooks and crannies of the state.

The operation, it is gathered , is designed to tackle the rising insecurity in Anambra State, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, drug epidemic, criminal idolatry, land grabbing, touting and other violent crimes. It will also focus on confidence-building and community engagement to reassure the public of their safety and security.

Performing the launch, Governor Chukwuma Soludo, “Operation Udo Ga-Achi” marks a new beginning in Anambra State’s security landscape, employing a multifaceted approach that includes community policing, intelligence gathering, and strategic partnerships with key stakeholders to combat insecurity.

“Today, we launched a Special intervention force code named: “Operation Udo Ga-Achi” which translates to Operation Peace Shall Prevail. This special intervention, as an emergency action, complements regular policing by upscaling intelligence gathering, reward whistleblowers, enhance rapid response, and urgently root out the criminals from any/every camp in Anambra state. 

“It will also have special task forces on drugs, touting, cultism, and criminal idolatry. We will ramp up our civic and social reformation, and we invite the clergy, communities, teachers, and social crusaders to join in this campaign. They will be active in all nooks and crannies of the state, with patrols and pin-down stop-and-search operations as necessary” he said.

Meanwhile, Commandant Maku Olatunde, the Anambra State NSCDC boss, pledged the command’s full support for Operation Udo Ga-Achi, committing to collaborate closely with other security agencies to guarantee the operation’s success.