By Okey Maduforo Awka
There are strong fears that the personnels of Agunechemba Security Squad under the Udo Ga Chi Security Operations may be disarmed following the assault on Miss Jennifer Elohor by the security outfit at Oba in Idemili South local government area of Anambra state.
The plot is on the account of public outcry over the dastardly acts of the security operatives which it is alleged by some candidates for the November 8th gubernatorial election in Anambra state that they are going to be used to fight the opposition during the election.
Recall that in 2003 a popular security outfit as it where, the Bakassi Boys set by the then Gov Chinwoke Mbadinuju was disarmed ahead of the election over allegations by the traducers of Mbadinuju that the personnels were being used to fight them by the late governor .
Most of the members of the security outfit were arrested and disarmed by the federal security operatives before the election in order to stop Mbadinuju from securing a second term in office.
Mbadinuju ultimately became the only governor the People’s Democratic Party PDP extraction that could not return to office after the 2003 general elections .
It is not clear when this unslought would take place but it is being feared that the complaints of some gubernatorial candidates in the November 8th gubernatorial election and the reactions of the National Youth Service Corps NYSC may have given impetus to this plot which is feared my take place before the election.
Gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu shortly after the Anambra South Senatorial District and Onitsha North 1 State Constituency by election had accused the Anambra state government of using the Agunechemba Security Squad to harass and intimidate voters on the day of the said election alleging that the Deputy Governor Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim of master minding the incident which has been dismissed by government authorities.
According to one of the campaign organization members of Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, Comerade Tony Uche the use of the Agunechemba Security Squad is a ploy to force Anambra voters into voting for a candidate that is not of their choice and this may play out in subsequent elections in the state.
“If you see the number of the Vigilante personnels that came with them on over twenty trucks to highjack the election but the youths resisted them ”
“, Ukachukwu never ordered anyone to attack the Deputy Governor and the Commissioner for Environment but that the youths felt that they cannot be intimidated by the vigilante personnels that came to Osumenyi” he contended.
Also in reaction to the assault on the female corps member gubernatorial candidate of the Labor Party Chief George Moghalu expressed similar fears ;
“This is devoid of politics and I stand in my position to say that Udo Ga Chi should be disbanded and trained before you can constitute them to as a security outfit”
“I call on the Federal government to come into this matter because the girl in question is a corps member on National service to her father land and the Udo Ga Chi people are exceeding their bounds ”
“He should be protected by the Federal government because she is on National service and she is a proper of the federal government”
Moghalu expressed fears that the security outfit may be used to attack political opponents in the November 8th gubernatorial election urging the Federal government to look into the matter.
“Even their activities in the last by election has shown that they we constituted for the November 8th gubernatorial election in Anambra state”
“,We are waiting for them in November 8th gubernatorial election and we are demanding that the Federal government should provide enough security in the November election to check mate the activities of this state government security outfit” he said.
Gubernatorial candidate of the Young Democratic Party YPP Sir Paul Chukwuma also described the assault on the female corps member as a prelude to what may happen in the coming election.
“The government’s carefree attitude has further exacerbated the abuse by this setup, always in the news for extorting Ndi Anambra, killing them, or abusing them. Yet, the insecurity in Anambra State has continued to escalate with no clear end in sight”
“This particular incident must not be swept under the carpet, like the ones before it. I am calling on the Government of Anambra State to take a firm stance against these public abusers and bring them to justice. I also call on the security agencies to ensure that these abusers are not only rounded up, but are compelled to face the law”he said.
Special Adviser to Gov Charles Soludo on Security Rtd Air Vice Marshall Ben Chiobi in reaction to this alleged plot said that he is not aware of the disarming of Agunechemba adding that the governor is in a better position to speak on the matter .
“The Chief Security Officer of Anambra state is Gov Charles Soludo and he is in a better position to comment on this ” he said.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Information Dr Law Mefor reechoed the same reaction that he is not aware of the plot .
Special Adviser to Soludo on Community Security Prince Kenneth Emeakayi could not pick his calls as it was gathered that he was in a meeting but he had earlier explained that the actions of the personnels were unprofessional adding that the nine members of the outfit have been suspended and are facing investigation.
He described the assault on the female corps member as most unfortunate noting that the outfit remains resolute in ensuring that crimes and criminality are eradicated from the state .
He noted that the personnels have been under going training on how to engage with the public adding that there is nothing to fear about in the operations of the Agunechemba Security Squad.
