We shouldn’t hide the truth anymore, following the murder of a Catholic Priest at the Ihiala axis on Boxing Day. Anambra State’s escalating insecurity has reached a critical and disheartening level under Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration. Nothing dramatizes this tragic trend better than the recent murder of Rev. Father Tobias Chukwujekwu Okonkwo, a Catholic priest and pharmacist. Unknown gunmen shot and killed Rev. Okonkwo on 26 December 2024, along the Onitsha-Owerri expressway. His death is not an isolated incident but part of a grim series of violent attacks and killings that have left the citizens of Anambra State living in fear and despair.
Governor Soludo, who ascended to office with promises of economic revival and improved governance, appears to have fallen woefully short in addressing the fundamental need for security. Under his watch, not only has general insecurity worsened, but the state has also witnessed heinous crimes that strike at the very fabric of its society. Fr. Okonkwo’s murder, coupled with other high-profile cases—including the beheading of several citizens by criminal groups—exemplifies the state’s deteriorating safety situation.
Okonkwo’s Values
From the words of his superior – the Bishop of Nnewi – and those he worked with, Fr. Okonkwo came across as a man dedicated to service, both spiritual and professional. As the manager of the Schools of Nursing, Midwifery, and Medical Laboratory at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Ihiala, he embodied the values of compassion and community development. The Ihiala murder on Boxing Day, a time typically associated with joy and togetherness, underscores the audacity and cruelty of the perpetrators who now operate with seeming impunity in Anambra State.
The wave of violence sweeping the state is unsparing even to the Catholic Church, a bastion of stability and hope for many Nigerians. Priests, who devote their lives to God and the service of humanity, should not become prime targets for criminals. The killing of Fr. Okonkwo is reminiscent of the gruesome murder of other clergy members and prominent citizens in Nigeria. Their assassinations are not just attacks on individuals but also an assault on the moral and spiritual fiber of society.
Governor Soludo’s inability to curb these atrocities raises serious questions about his administration’s priorities and capabilities. He made strides in areas like infrastructure and economic policy, but citizens’ perpetual fear of violent death tends to obscure the impact. He knows better than to relegate security, the foundation of societal progress. Soludo knows that, without security, businesses cannot thrive, education cannot flourish, and communities cannot develop.
Ineffecitive Security Managementt
Sadly, the governor’s approach to combating insecurity has followed a beaten, pitiful path. He follows with statements of condemnation, promises of investigations, and a flurry of media appearances after each high-profile attack. None of these actions translate into tangible improvements in security. The Ihiala murder on Boxing Day, occurring on a major expressway that should have been heavily monitored, reveals glaring lapses in basic law enforcement and intelligence gathering.
A particularly chilling aspect of the current insecurity is the targeting of Anambra VIPS by these murderous groups. The gruesome attacks on VIPs end up instilling fear and asserting dominance over communities. Yet, despite repeated calls from citizens for decisive action, the state government’s response has been underwhelming at best. The lack of arrests and convictions in these cases emboldens the perpetrators, sending a message that Anambra is a haven for criminal activity.
The insecurity in Anambra has had far-reaching implications beyond the immediate loss of lives. It has eroded public confidence in the government, discouraged investment, and forced many to flee the state in search of safety. This brain drain and capital flight are detrimental to Anambra’s long-term development.
Searching for Ideas
Governor Soludo needs to get it; his legacy will not count by roads constructed or beautiful policies drafted. The safety and well-being of Anambra’s citizens are what counts at the end of the day. He must overhaul the state’s security architecture, invest in modern surveillance technology, and foster collaboration with federal security agencies. Why not look in to see what his peers are doing in Enugu and Abia?
There is no shortage of viable ideas to manage the rising insecurity. Anambra needs to strengthen community policing initiatives and involve traditional institutions in intelligence gathering. Additionally, the governor must demonstrate political will to hold those responsible for these heinous crimes to account, regardless of their status or affiliations.
The Ihiala murder on Boxing Day – and countless other acts of violence – should serve as a wake-up call to Governor Soludo. It is time for decisive, courageous action to reclaim Anambra from the grip of lawlessness. Only then can the state begin to heal and rebuild the trust of its people. Until achieved, Anambra’s potential remains stifled, and its citizens will continue to pay the ultimate price for the government’s inaction.