The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), a leading civil society organization, has voiced deep concern over the worsening wave of kidnappings, cult-related killings, and violent crimes plaguing Anambra State.

 

This follows a disturbing trend of near-daily abductions and killings, including the recent murder of a popular fish seller who was the son of the state’s All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) women leader.

 

In a statement issued Thursday by FENRAD’s Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, the organization highlighted a surge in violent criminal activity across both rural and urban areas of the state—such as Nibo, Abatete, Ihiala, Awka, and parts of Anambra South—resulting in widespread fear, multiple deaths, and the disruption of social and economic activities.

 

Nwafor pointed to alarming incidents like the mass killing during a traditional festival in Nibo, abductions of high-profile individuals, and attacks on students and commuters as signs of a deteriorating security environment.

 

While acknowledging the proactive steps taken by the Anambra State Government—particularly the launch of Operation Udo Ga-Achi and the enactment of the Anambra Homeland Security Law 2025—FENRAD noted that these efforts still fall short of addressing deeper structural flaws in the state’s security system.

 

The group called for a total restructuring of Anambra’s security architecture and offered several recommendations:

 

Overhaul of Community Policing: Moving beyond rebranded vigilante groups to a professionally trained, legally guided, and rights-respecting policing structure integrated with formal law enforcement.

 

Improved Interagency Coordination: Establishing clear command hierarchies, intelligence-sharing systems, and community engagement protocols for better efficiency.

 

Grassroots Intelligence Systems: Creating ward-level security committees and forest surveillance units in partnership with hunters, farmers, and local leaders to track criminal activity in real-time.

 

Civilian Oversight Mechanisms: Forming an independent body to monitor security agents and community vigilantes, investigate misconduct, and ensure compliance with lawful procedures.

 

Strategic Dialogue and Conflict Prevention: Investing in peacebuilding programs, youth outreach, and early-warning systems, particularly in communities vulnerable to cultism, gang violence, and drug-related crimes.

 

 

FENRAD emphasized that security goes beyond enforcement, stating, “It is also about justice, equity, and inclusion. A reactive, force-driven model alone cannot restore safety in Anambra.”

 

The organization pledged its readiness to work with the state government, traditional rulers, civil society groups, and federal agencies in designing inclusive and lasting security solutions.