The Ndigbo Young Professionals have raised serious concerns about the Anambra Vigilante Service, commonly known as Agunechemba. They allege that the vigilante group has overstepped its bounds by detaining individuals for nearly a year without transferring them to the Nigeria Police Force and has been involved in the extrajudicial killing of no less than 100 people since its inception.
In a press release issued on Saturday in Awka, the National Coordinator, Ambassador Chukwuemeka Chionoso, highlighted a particularly troubling case involving Chukwudozie Nwangwu, a well-known figure from Awka, who has reportedly been held for five months without being handed over to the police for questioning.
“It is unfortunate that the Anambra Vigilante Service, or Agunechemba, has effectively taken over the responsibilities of the Nigeria Police in Anambra State,” Chionoso stated. “Residents now claim that the police have lost their authority, with Agunechemba assuming control.”
Further investigations revealed that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) overseeing the area where Agunechemba operates has become ineffective. One resident expressed that the difference between the Anambra Vigilante Service and kidnappers is negligible, as both wield AK-47s and instigate chaos throughout the state.
Additionally, a security source informed our team that many members of the Anambra Vigilante Service are former convicts armed with AK-47s and face masks, roaming the state and targeting innocent citizens as well as political opponents of Governor Charles Soludo.
Reports indicate that over 1,000 detainees have been held at the Ocha brigade office for nearly seven months without any communication with the Nigeria Police.
The role of the Nigeria Police includes maintaining law and order, protecting lives and property, enforcing laws, preventing and detecting crimes, apprehending offenders, and ensuring the safety and security of citizens. It raises concerns about why the Anambra Vigilante Service is allowed to arrest and detain individuals for extended periods without proper transfers to the police for investigation and prosecution.
Ambassador Chukwuemeka Chionoso urgently called on the Inspector General of Police to initiate an investigation into the activities of the Anambra Vigilante Service, as numerous individuals have reportedly fallen victim to extrajudicial killings carried out by the group.
Repeated attempts by our reporter to reach the Commander of the Anambra Vigilante Service, known as Okpompi, were unsuccessful, with both calls and text messages going unanswered.
