Assault on NYSC member: Anambra youths kick against call by opposition forces to disband Agunechemba security outfit 

By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka

Youths drawn from the 179 communities across the 21 local government areas of Anambra state have kicked against the call by some stakeholders on the State Governor,Prof. Charles Soludo to disband Agunechemba security outfit.

It will be recalled that the call to disband the local security outfit-Agunechemba was necessitated by the high-handedness and lack of respect for fundamental human rights of the citizens of the state, which was brazenly displayed recently by some members of the security outfit,  where a female corper, Miss Jennifer Elobor was highly humiliated.

However, the youths under the umbrella of the Youth wing of Anambra State Town Union Council (ASTUC), have maintained that the security outfit must stay thus stating their position during a peaceful protest at the weekend in solidarity for the good work by Agunaechemba and Udo Ga-Achi operatives across the state.

They warned politicians and others with anti people stance not to politicise security in the State.

This came on the heels of a similar protest by some youths held in Awka on Friday and led by the governorship candidate of Young Progressive Party (YPP), Sir Paul Chukwuma who had called for disbandment of Agunaechemba and Special Anambra Anti-touting Squad (SASA) due to unprofessional conduct of some of their members.

The youths from across the communities in Anambra State, in a counter peaceful protest along major streets of Awka, were seen carrying  placards with different inscriptions, declaring strong support for the Agunaechemba and governor Chukwuma Soludo’s re-election.

The ASTUC Youth President, Hon. Ken Okoli, who led the peaceful protest, condemned the involvement of eight members of Agunechemba in the assault on a member of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Miss Jennifer Elobor and urged the government to prosecute the culprits accordingly.

Okoli, while commending the state government for sacking the culprits and handing them over to the police for prosecution, assured that the youth across the 179 communities would continue to monitor and checkmate activities of the State security operatives to ensure they operate according to the rule.

According to him, Anambra youth would not support any move to disband the security operatives as it could jeopardize the State security network as it would empower some politicians from the opposition to scuttle or rig the November 8 governorship poll in the name of insecurity.

“We are here to show solidarity to the State government from the community level. We are working with the various institutions across the State to make Anambra State liveable to all. Anambra is our home and we are serving Anambra State,” he said.

“We can’t allow Agunaechemba and Udo Ga-Achi to be disbanded by the mistakes of some members. Anambra State Homeland Security law has empowered them to provide solutions to security challenges. We are in support that those who erred among them should be prosecuted.”

“We are in support of governor Chukwuma Soludo’s re-election. We are supporting the leadership of Agunechemba to continue. They will remain as parts of security providing solutions to Anambra astate. We do not want a return to an era where people will run away from Anambra,” he stated.

The State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, represented by the Chief of Staff, Sir Ernest Ezeajughi,  while receiving the protesters thanked them for re-enforcing their confidence in the State government.

He assured the youths that the current administration would continue to reposition the State.

Soludo, who said his administration had performed well by all indices, urged the stakeholders and politicians to rather support him in tackling security challenges.

“The governor is doing very well especially in the area of security. We have transformed various sectors. All the stakeholders need to join hands in tackling insecurities. Everyone must come together and support him.”

“Kindly mobilise other youth across the 21 Local Government Areas and 326 wards to support the government efforts. We must resist every attempt by politicians to politicise security,” he stated.