By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has called for enhanced security partnership to rid the state of criminals.

He made the call at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, on Friday when he received the new General Officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, Major General U.T. Musa.

Soludo used the occasion to extend his condolences to the Nigerian Army on the recent attack by yet-to-be-identified gun men which resulted to the death of thee soldiers and a civilian at Umunze, Orumba South LGA of Anambra State.

He said: “Anytime I hear that a law enforcement agent is killed, my heart bleeds. Unfortunately, in the homeland, there is actually an internal war ongoing, albeit a guerilla warfare. It is plain criminality and we will do anything within our power to contain this.

“We’ve tried to motivate even our vigilante to join in the business of securing the homeland because security is everybody’s business.”

The Governor further told the GOC, Major-General Musa, to pay special attention on the Anambra-Imo boundary, saying: “If you cordon off the boundaries between Anambra and Imo in a joint operation, you squeeze and take them out.”

Describing the activities of the criminals, the Governor added: “They are less than beasts. Someone who takes pleasure in killing somebody.

“I was a victim. I am victim. They came to where I was campaigning, they shot and killed people. I’ve seen it first-hand. These are not human beings. For me, this is a war that we must win.

“The country is technically at war and we must fight with everything we’ve got.”

Speaking on the huge potentials in Nigeria, especially as it concerns human and material context, Soludo said: “The country is destined to be the biggest black power on earth and we cannot allow these few miscreants to prevail over our collective will. They are less than 0.01 percent of the population. We shall continue to prevail

“Here in Anambra, I think the whole country is watching. The potentials are huge and working with you, I have no doubt in my mind that we’ve got strong partners. The security agencies we have in the state have been alive to their responsibilities.”

While stating that there is an ongoing amendment of the law to ensure that any building where methamphetamine (mkpurummiri) is produced, will be demolished, the Governor said that the infrastructure of the criminals has been largely degraded.

Earlier in his speech, Major General Musa appreciated the Governor for assisting the security agencies in the state, pointing out that the courtesy call is customary.

He said: “My duty is to ensure the security of everyone in the south eastern states. To ensure that everyone carry out their responsibilities. We are aware of the security situation in the region which is gradually improving. Security is everybody's responsibility. My prayer is that the region should be calm.

“Cases of attack, poses new challenges. I assure you of the total commitment of the Nigerian Army. We discovered that Anambra and Imo are volatile that gives us serious concern. The issue of agitation is there, but people capitalize on it to commit crime.”

The GOC called on the people to avail the security agencies with information within their reach, saying that without security, there won’t be development.

According to him, “Drug is a major contributor to crime.”