Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, has expressed deep concern over the escalating insecurity in Anambra State, condemning the frequent incidents of kidnapping and killings that have become rampant across the state.
Okonkwo described the situation as grave, stating that it is only by divine intervention that these crimes haven’t turned into daily occurrences. He highlighted the alarming trend where even priests and religious figures are not spared. According to him, the increasing violence, including the kidnapping of two reverend sisters and the abduction of an Anglican Archbishop, signals a disturbing level of lawlessness.
“The scale of these atrocities is unimaginable. The killings happening in Anambra have reached a point never before seen in the state. Even priests are not safe; they are shot and killed in broad daylight, with no consequences. It is unacceptable that clergy members are kidnapped and killed, and the government seems indifferent,” Okonkwo said.
He went further to criticise the state government for its apparent inaction, recounting an incident where a reverend father, whose colleague was kidnapped, was told by security and government officials that nothing could be done about the abduction.
Okonkwo also raised doubts about the effectiveness of Anambra’s state security initiative, “Operation Udo Ga Achi,” launched by Governor Charles Soludo, noting that such measures have come too late. “While I welcome any genuine and sincere effort to tackle insecurity in Anambra, the fact that the governor is only launching a security operation now, after nearly three years in office, raises questions,” he said.
The businessman also expressed that last Christmas would have been an ideal time for the governor to declare a state of emergency in response to the mounting insecurity, calling for more decisive action to protect the people of Anambra.
“As it stands, the people of Anambra are living in constant fear, and the government’s response has been far from reassuring,” Okonkwo concluded.
