The issue of security in the world today 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.
The recently released statistics by TheCable covering the period from July 2024 to June 2025 provide compelling evidence that Anambra’s innovative security architecture by Governor Soludo, anchored on the Udo Ga Chi joint 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.
According to the security report covering thirty-seven states and the FCT, Anambra State recorded just sixty-three kidnapping cases over the twelve month period, a figure that places it at sixteenth 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 represents a paradigm shift from conventional approaches. The integration of the Udo Ga Chi joint 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 twenty-one 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.
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.
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 boundary criminal activities. The governor’s commitment to accountability in security operations and the measurable outcomes of his policies provides confidence that the gains will be sustained and built upon.
So, TheCable 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, Anambra is safer, more secure, and better positioned under the dynamic leadership of Governor Soludo for sustainable development than it has been in years.
