Governor Charles Soludo has declared Anambra the safest state in Nigeria, citing sweeping security gains and the dismantling of over 60 criminal camps across the state.
Speaking during a live media chat in Awka, the governor said the state had recorded no major security incidents in the last three to four months, attributing the improvement to sustained operations and new security reforms introduced by his administration.
According to him, areas previously under the control of criminal elements have been reclaimed, with normalcy restored in at least eight local government areas that had been heavily affected by insecurity.
“It is safe today to say Anambra is the safest by all available statistics. Within the last few months, we have not recorded any major incident,” Soludo said, adding that the state witnessed one of its most vibrant festive seasons in decades, with thousands of visitors trooping in daily.
He also announced the effective end of the long-standing Monday sit-at-home order previously enforced by Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), noting that economic and social activities have fully resumed. Schools, markets, factories and public institutions now operate without disruption, while flight operations into the state on Mondays have also returned.
Soludo attributed the turnaround to a combination of legal and institutional reforms, including the enactment of new laws targeting cultism and touting, as well as the establishment of security outfits such as Agunechemba and the special intervention force, Ugodachi.
Reflecting on the situation he inherited in 2022, the governor described a climate of fear where residents could not openly associate with political parties or display campaign materials without risking attacks.
He recalled that during the 2021 governorship election, political activities were conducted under severe threats, with incidents of violence recorded against individuals perceived to be politically affiliated.
Despite the progress, Soludo cautioned that security remains an ongoing effort, stressing that no society can achieve absolute safety.
“There is no such thing as 100 per cent security. What we have achieved is significant, but it is a continuous process,” he said.
The governor recently began a second term in office, pledging to consolidate on the gains and further strengthen the state’s security architecture.
Anambra Declared Safest as Soludo Claims Major Security Breakthrough
