By Chinedum Treasure
The Anambra State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to combating terrorism and other forms of violent crime in the state.
The Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, disclosed this on Saturday during the Department of State Services (DSS) public awareness campaign, tagged “Unite Against Terror.”
The sensitisation walk, which focused on the dangers of violent crime and the need for collective action to maintain peace, attracted personnel from various security agencies and stakeholders, including the Police, Nigeria Correctional Service, Immigration Service, NDLEA, Agunechemba, Federal Establishments, Ministry of Information, Red Cross, Anambra Bus Drivers Forum and Anambra Tricycle Rider Forum.
Speaking to journalists at the Light House Tower, where the march ended, Mefor warned individuals terrorising residents while claiming to be freedom fighters to stop misleading the people, particularly youths.
He said terrorism could not be equated with freedom fighting, adding that genuine liberation could not be achieved through violence against the people.
“Don’t be deceived; terrorism is not the same thing as freedom fighting. You don’t liberate us by killing us,” Mefor said.
The commissioner also linked the relative peace in Anambra to the development recorded by the present administration, noting that insecurity consumes resources that could otherwise be invested in education, healthcare and infrastructure.
According to him, maintaining security is the responsibility of everyone and not government alone.
He urged residents to provide useful information to security agencies, assuring that information supplied through the state’s whistle-blowing policy would be treated with utmost confidentiality.
The Police spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the solidarity march was designed to raise awareness about violent crime and encourage residents to support security agencies.
Ikenga urged residents to reject violence, remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.
He said the initiative would further strengthen inter-agency collaboration, intelligence sharing, community engagement and proactive crime prevention.
Also speaking, the Director of Operations of Agunechemba, Chief Chinenye Ihenko, said the state security outfit had intensified its efforts to protect residents and control criminal activities.
He noted that while crime might not be completely eradicated, concerted efforts by security agencies had helped to significantly contain criminality in the state.
Tags: Anambra State, Law Mefor, DSS, Terrorism, Security
