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Insecurity Tales: Between Reality and Toxic Hype in Anambra – Aburime

By Christian ABURIME
The Chief press Secretary to the Anambra state government, CHRISTIAN ABURIME has reacted to the insecurity Tales both in Anambra state and the country at large.
According to Aburime, the issue of insecurity is a global phenomenon, and today it is not the exclusive preserve of any society. Every nation has its share of security risks and breaches.
He said while responsible governments try their best to fulfill their constitutional primary responsibility of securing lives and property, no society in the world is ever totally safe.
His words: In fact, according to a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report, 6 in 7 people worldwide are plagued by feelings of insecurity. Also, the report further confirms that about 1.2 billion people live in conflict-affected areas, with almost half of them (560 million) in countries not usually considered to be fragile.
This means that, whether in the developed world or developing continents, vulnerability to insecurity is universal. Gun violence is an ever present threat in the US. Fatal stabbings are common in the UK. Terrorism abounds in the Middle East. Deadly crimes occur in Asia. South America has their drug cartel and mafia-related killings.
And most countries in Africa face diverse insecurity crises, including South Africa where crimes and killings are regular. But despite all the spate of insecurity across the developed societies, visitors, tourists and investors never cease travelling there; neither do their citizens badmouth their countries to the outside world.
This makes one wonder why when it comes to the case of Nigeria, some subversive elements are bent on disparaging their own state with exaggerated tales of insecurity, especially in Anambra State.
They have appointed themselves as town-criers of not good tidings, but of horror stories and pull-down-Anambra narratives just to make the government look bad. What a criminal indulgence!
Every day, insecurity rears its ugly head in different parts of Nigeria as daily reported in the news. For instance, banditry and kidnappings are daily tales in the North zone of the country. Weeks ago, five students of Federal University, Gusau in Zamfara State were kidnapped and yet to be released. Sectarian killings continue in Kaduna, Plateau, Niger, Kogi and Benue.
Gallant Nigerian soldiers recently arrested some rail track vandals in Nasarawa, just as policemen lately engaged armed robbers in a gun battle in Gombe State. Abuja, the seat of power that should be supposedly most secure, is a theatre of kidnappings and stabbings.
Over the past weeks, there have been several reported incidents of fatal stabbings across Abuja, from Wuse II to Gwarimpa, Airport Road to Gwagwalada, and Utako to Jabi.
Coming down to the Southwest, the zone has its own share of insecurity crises. Armed robberies and ritual killings do occur in Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and other states.
South-south and Southeast regions are not spared either.
In all of this, citizens of various states don’t indulge in mischievous hyping up of terrifying insecurity to discourage visitors and investors as some misguided few Anambra State’s own citizens do. And in spite of isolated incidents of violence and crime, Anambra State today can still be reckoned as one of the safest states in Nigeria.
The relative security in the state is not a mere coincidence, but rather the result of deliberate and concerted efforts by the Soludo-led government to continue to secure lives and protect property.
So, instead of campaign of calumny and pull-it-down syndrome by critics who never see anything good in their state, Anambra State government under the visionary leadership of Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, deserves commendation for its unwavering dedication to ensuring the security of lives and property within its jurisdiction.
The government has made substantial investments in law enforcement agencies, equipped them with modern technology, and provided adequate incentives to enhance their effectiveness.
Furthermore, the government has created an enabling environment for the security agencies to operate optimally, fostering collaboration and intelligence sharing among them.
However, as citizens of this remarkable state, it is crucial to recognize the responsibility we bear in maintaining the positive strides that Anambra State has made in other aspects.
We must refrain from indulging in the temptation to badmouth our own state or spread exaggerated stories of insecurity. While it is natural to discuss and address any security issues that may arise, let conversations be constructive and tend towards improvement.
We must discuss our security situation with caution and accuracy, avoiding the trap of sensationalism in social media platforms that could unjustly scare away visitors and investors.
As it is a universally acknowledged fact that no society is ever totally free from insecurity, the Anambra State government will continue to do all things possible to strengthen the state’s security architecture. And with Ndi Anambra providing their goodwill and support, fostering a healthy environment of positivity, the state will surely flourish under the protective wings of a proactive government led by Governor Soludo.
By so doing, we will attract the much-need development investments that will ultimately help in making Anambra a secure, livable, progressive and prosperous state we can all be proud of.
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Emergency rule: Ibas seeks more time to brief Reps on ‘situation’ in Rivers

Sole Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas has requested more time from the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on Rivers State to properly brief the lawmakers on developments in the state.
Ibas made the request at a meeting with the committee in Abuja on Friday. He had earlier failed to appear before the committee on April 17 and 24.
He expressed regret over his failure to honour previous invitations by the committee.
Ibas held a closed-door meeting with members of the ad hoc committee on Rivers State on Friday.
The committee called the meeting as part of efforts to take over legislative duties in Rivers State.
The declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State had to the suspension of the legislature, Governor Sim Fubara and his deputy.
Speaking at the meeting with the committee, Ibas said: “I have always held the National Assembly in the highest regard.
I recognise the importance of your oversight responsibilities and your interest in the progress being made in Rivers, which is presently relatively calm, but still fragile.
“I remain fully committed to cooperating with the committee and to ensuring that all relevant information is made available in due course to support your important work.
“I only request the understanding and the indulgence of this committee to grant me additional time to adequately prepare and present a comprehensive and constructive briefing, given the complexities and sensitivities surrounding the current transitional period in Rivers.
“It is important that any engagement with this committee is done with the depth, accuracy, and clarity it rightfully deserves.
“I remain fully committed to cooperating with the committee and to ensuring that all relevant information is made available in due course to support your important work.”
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Emergency: Ibas meets Reps panel today as protests continue

The River State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd,), has appeared before the House of Representatives Committee overseeing the state’s administration under the emergency rule on Thursday.
The Committee Chairman, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, conducted a closed-door session with committee members, lasting about 50 minutes, but declined to speak to the press afterward.
Journalists were left disappointed as the committee members refused to comment.
The meeting included prominent lawmakers such as Deputy Chief Whip, Ali Isah, and the chairpersons of various House committees, including those for Federal Character, Finance, Water Resources, and Health Services.
The Sole Administrator’s participation at the National Economic Council meeting, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, could explain his absence.
Meanwhile, protests continued in Rivers State as hundreds of women from the Opobo Kingdom marched to demand the immediate reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, whose suspension followed the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.
The women rejected the appointment of a Sole Administrator to manage the state’s affairs, calling the emergency rule unconstitutional.
The protest, led by the President of the Opobo Women Association, Felicia Pepple, began with a solemn prayer session at King Jaja Monument Square, with the women wearing black to seek divine intervention.
A cleric, Venerable Michael Dappa, delivered a sermon that inspired the protesters. The women then marched to the Water Side, chanting, “Bring back our Governor,” and sat on the ground in protest.Pepple emphasised the governor’s positive contributions to the state’s development and appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reinstate Fubara:
“We voted for our peaceful and amiable Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara; we say no to emergency rule.” She urged Nigerians to support their cause and decried the hardship faced by the people of Rivers State under the emergency rule.
A resident, Blessing Accra-Jaja, lamented that the town’s once-bustling landmarks, like King Jaja Monument Square and local hotels, had become deserted.
She called on the National Assembly Reconciliation Committee and President Tinubu to reinstate Governor Fubara, hoping it would restore peace and the town’s festive spirit.
The Rivers Women Unite Prayer Group also expressed concern over the ongoing emergency rule, calling on President Tinubu to end the crisis.
They warned that the economy of Rivers State was deteriorating, causing hardship for women, youths, and children.
In a prayer rally held in Port Harcourt, the group urged the president to lift the emergency rule, restore the state’s democratic institutions, and return Governor Fubara to office.
The group’s statement, signed by Dr. Vivian Ige-Elenwo and Chikodi Okpara, appealed for reconciliation and an end to the political standoff, emphasising the need for urgent action to save the state’s economy and improve the living conditions of its people.
The women expressed unwavering support for President Tinubu but remained firm in their demand for justice, equity, and the return of their elected governor.
The statement also called for greater security measures in the wake of recent attacks in Plateau, Benue, and Gombe states, highlighting the need for sustainable peace and development in the country.
Lawyers demand NBA President’s resignation.
Meanwhile, a coalition of prominent legal professionals under the aegis of the Public Interest Lawyers League has called for the immediate resignation of the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe (SAN), and the Chairman of the NBA Annual General Conference Organising Committee, Emeka Obegolu, following controversy surrounding a N300m payment allegedly received from the Rivers State Government.
The group’s demand comes amid growing calls for the NBA to refund the sum, said to have been paid into its coffers by the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, for the hosting of the association’s 2025 Annual General Conference.
Though the NBA has since relocated the conference to Enugu, it maintains that the N300m was a “gift” from the Rivers State Government.At a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja, PILL President, Abdul Mahmud, accused the NBA leadership of compromising the integrity of the association.
He urged them to return the funds and resign immediately to salvage what remains of the association’s credibility.
“The NBA cannot claim to be the watchdog of public morality while engaging in conduct so thoroughly devoid of the very standards it seeks to impose on others,” Mahmud said.
“The insistence of the NBA leadership to hold on to the N300m is not only disgraceful but reflects a deeper rot that has enabled an unaccountable elite within the association to treat the NBA as a personal fiefdom.
”Mahmud stressed that their call for resignation was not punitive, but a necessary first step towards organisational reform. “This moment demands accountability, courage, and leadership,” he declared.
“These resignations are necessary acts of organisational cleansing, aimed at restoring trust and credibility in the NBA.
”PILL further condemned the lack of transparency surrounding the transaction, noting that the revelation came not from NBA leadership, but from the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
“It was not disclosed in any official NBA communication, nor acknowledged by the Conference Organising Committee. It took an external whistleblower to bring this dark secret to light,” Mahmud said.
“This scandal is not just about money—it is about principle, integrity, and the very soul of the Nigerian Bar Association.”
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Sanwo-Olu Queries Failure of Students in Lagos Public Schools
This was despite the government’s spending of N1,577,794,000 to cover examination fees for 58,188 bona fide students under its free education initiative.

THE Lagos State Government is not happy that 31,596 students in public secondary schools in the state failed the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE.
This was despite the government’s spending of N1,577,794,000 to cover examination fees for 58,188 bona fide students under its free education initiative.
The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Jamiu Alli-Balogun, disclosed this during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing at Alausa, Ikeja.
In the presentation of the education sector’s scorecard of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, the commissioner stated that despite this significant investment, more than half of the sponsored candidates failed the examination, raising questions about the quality of instruction and student preparedness in Lagos public schools.
Alli-Balogun said: “The state government is committed to relieving parents of the burden of exam fees. But we must also prevent wastage by ensuring only qualified students benefit from this programme.”
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