The issue of global security has become a political tinderbox. No matter which region, country, or state, the presence or lack of security exerts much influence on governance and politics. In Nigeria, it gets even much more politicised and weaponised to settle political scores.
When the challenge is narrowed down to Southeast Nigeria, the narrative often takes a twisted turn of comparative exaggeration among states, with Anambra unfairly demonised. Yet, as critics continue to amplify isolated incidents and paint pictures of doom concerning Anambra State, the hard facts tell a remarkably different story under the progressive leadership of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s administration.
According to Governor’s Chief Press Secretary Christian Aburime, the recently released statistics by The Cable covering the period from July 2024 to June 2025 provide compelling evidence that Anambra’s innovative security architecture by Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, anchored on the Udo Ga Chi allied forces (comprising of the Army, Navy, Police, DSS, Civil defense,) and Agunechemba vigilante network, is delivering exceptional results in the fight against kidnapping and violent crime.
He said the Cable’s recent comprehensive security report covering the 36 States and the FCT Abuja, Anambra State recorded just 63 kidnapping cases over the 12-month period, a figure that places it at 16th position nationally and remarkably, makes it the safest state in the entire Southeast region.
This data reveals that Anambra has successfully positioned itself as the most secure state in the Southeast. When viewed against the national backdrop, Anambra’s security achievements become even more impressive.
Without doubt, under Governor Soludo, Anambra has outperformed many others with supposedly better security narratives:
Governor Soludo’s security framework, which integrates the Udo Ga Chi allied forces with local Agunechemba vigilante groups, has created a multi-layered security network that combines professional expertise with grassroots intelligence gathering. This hybrid model has proven particularly effective because it leverages local knowledge as the Agunechemba vigilante groups, drawn from local communities, possess intimate knowledge of terrain, criminal hideouts, and suspicious activities that external forces might miss.
Also, the decentralised structure allows for quick deployment and response to security threats across the state’s 21 local government areas. This further builds community trust by involving local stakeholders in security operations, which has fostered unprecedented cooperation between citizens and security agencies.
Accordingly, the Udo Ga Chi allied forces provide the professional backbone that ensures operations meet best practices while maintaining accountability.
While statistics provide the framework for understanding Anambra’s security success, the qualitative improvements in citizens’ daily lives tell an equally compelling story.
Markets in Onitsha, Nnewi, and Awka now operate with extended hours, nightlife has returned to many communities, and intra-state commerce has flourished as traders feel safer moving goods across the state. Farmers can also access their farms with greater confidence, contributing to improved food security and rural economic development.
Critics who amplify every isolated security incident in Anambra often fail to provide the crucial context that these statistics reveal. No security system is perfect, and occasional incidents are inevitable in any dynamic society. What matters is the overall trend, the systematic response to threats, and the comparative performance against peer states.
The fact that Anambra has maintained relative peace while states with longer-established security frameworks continue to struggle with higher crime rates speaks volumes about the effectiveness of Governor Soludo’s approach.
While celebrating these achievements, the Soludo administration remains focused on continuous improvement. Plans are always being made to strengthen the security architecture, incorporate more advanced technology solutions, and reinforce inter-state cooperation to address cross-border criminal activities. The governor’s commitment to accountability in security operations and the measurable outcomes of his policies provide confidence that the gains will be sustained and built upon.
Aburime added that the Cable report provides irrefutable evidence that Governor Soludo’s security strategy is working. With Anambra ranking as the safest state in the Southeast and maintaining one of the lowest kidnapping rates nationally, the data speaks louder than the hyperbolic noise of detractors.