Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has announced a 6 pm to 6 am curfew on motorcycle taxis (okada), shuttle buses, and tricycles (keke) in eight local government areas.
The affected LGAs are Aguata, Ihiala, Ekwusigo, Nnewi North, Nnewi South, Ogbaru, Orumba North, and Orumba South; and the curfew takes effect immediately.
The governor announced this in a live broadcast from the Governor's Lodge, Amawbia on Wednesday.
He regretted that several efforts to find a peaceful resolution to increasing killings and criminality in parts of Anambra State have proved abortive, hence the new direction.
"With effect from tomorrow, Thursday, 26th May 2022, a 6 pm to 6 am curfew is hereby placed on motorcycles (okada), tricycles (keke), and shuttle buses in Aguata, Ihiala, Ekwusigo, Nnewi North, Nnewi South, Ogbaru, Orumba North and Orumba South Local Governments until further notice.
“Until further notice also, motorcycles, keke, and shuttle buses are banned from operating in these local governments on Mondays until the Sit-at-Home completely stops," Governor Soludo said.
He also said the directive would be reviewed in a fortnight.
Government to Acquire Properties Harbouring Criminals
In addition to the curfew, Governor Soludo announced that the state government will revoke and acquire any land found to be used and occupied by criminals.
He also called on landlords to begin what he describes as “operation know your tenants,” which involves having a special register with information about tenants such as their occupation.
He also asked market leaders and hotel managers to help in the collation of weekly security reports for the government.
“No part of Anambra State, house, bush, or forest shall be used as camps for these criminals.
“Anyone with a gun in a camp is considered a criminal in Anambra State, and the govt and people will work with security agencies to flush them out.
“The state government shall revoke and acquire any land found to be harbouring these criminals for public purposes.
“Henceforth, every community is required to provide information on any part of their land occupied by these criminals as camps.
“All communities are hereby charged to take over their communities completely and through the leadership of their traditional rulers and town unions give weekly security reports submitted every Friday,” he announced.
“Any buildings found to be harbouring these kidnappers and murderers who have laid siege on our state will be forfeited to the state government.
“All landlords are hereby directed to proceed on ‘operation know your tenant’ by keeping appropriate records of their tenants and report anyone suspected of being involved in criminal activities.
“All market leaders and stakeholders are hereby charged to join the communities in taking back their territory.
Everybody who either in person or via telephone call demands cash support or ransom from anyone in furtherance of any criminal activity or group should be immediately be reported to the government.”
Previous Peace Efforts
The latest measures were taken after previous attempts to curtail the violence and killings in Anambra State failed.
Since taking office on 17 March, Governor Soludo has consulted with the South East Joint Body of Bishops and traditional rulers.
The Joint Body of Bishops organised prayer sessions in the entire South East on 4 April, to end the sit-at-home ordered by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
The Anambra State government has also organised a Peace and Security Dialogue which brought the leadership of churches, town unions, traditional rulers, youth organizations, women, market, and transport unions together.
Unknown Gunmen Attack Market in Anambra in the bid of enforcing Sit at Home pic.twitter.com/BIIp36zzCY
— anambra diaries (@anambra_diaries) January 19, 2022
The government went a step further by offering amnesty and empowerment to armed youths in the forests.
These have failed to stop the enforcement of forced sit-at-home orders by armed non-state actors who kill at will.
Governor Soludo’s last attempt at peace was his visit to IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu who has been charged with treason and is in detention in Abuja.
Mazi Kanu reportedly dissociated IPOB from the killings and the destructive sit-at-home on Mondays in the South East.
