By: Marvellous Ezenwa
The Anambra State Government has intensified its call for collective action against terrorism, violent criminality and other threats to public safety, warning residents not to be deceived by individuals who disguise violent activities as a struggle for freedom or liberation.
The warning was issued by the Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, on Saturday during the Department of State Services (DSS) public awareness campaign tagged “Unite Against Terror,” organised to sensitise residents and mobilise communities across the state against terrorism and violent crime.
The campaign featured a solidarity sensitization walk involving personnel and representatives of several security and public agencies, including the Nigeria Police Service, Nigeria Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Agunechemba, Heads of Federal Establishments, Ministry of Information, Red Cross, Anambra Bus Drivers Forum (ABDF) and Anambra Tricycle Riders Forum (ATRF), among others.
The sensitization walk culminated at the Light House Tower, where the Commissioner addressed journalists and explained the importance of the campaign, stressing that the fight against terrorism cannot be left to security agencies alone.
According to him, the awareness is necessary because terrorists and violent criminals often attempt to manipulate public opinion, particularly among young people, by presenting their activities as a fight for the freedom or liberation of the people.
“We’re uniting against terror and terrorism. Don’t be deceived; terrorism is not the same thing as freedom fighting. If You See Something, Say Something”, Mefor said.
He maintained that killing, kidnapping, maiming and destroying the livelihoods of innocent citizens could never constitute a genuine liberation struggle, urging young people to reject narratives designed to recruit or influence them into violent activities.
“We’ve seen terror activities in Anambra and the entire Nigeria, particularly in the Southeast. They want the youth to believe that their activities are targeted at liberation. You don’t liberate us by killing us,” he said.
Mefor stressed that the reason for the awareness campaign goes beyond a one-day sensitization walk, noting that residents must understand the dangers terrorism poses to individuals, families, businesses and the overall development of the state. He said insecurity creates an environment where businesses struggle, movement is restricted, investments are discouraged and government resources that should be used for education, healthcare, roads and other infrastructure are diverted to security operations.
“If there is no peace, there is no development. We need security which is everybody’s business, not government’s alone. We need to secure our state and country because we have no other to call our own,” he said.
According to the Information Commissioner Mefor, the progress recorded in different sectors of Anambra demonstrates what can be achieved when there is relative peace, but more could be accomplished if insecurity is further reduced. He therefore urged residents to see the fight against terrorism as a shared responsibility and not merely the duty of government or security agencies.
“If the state can experience this level of transformation amidst pockets of insecurity, imagine what would have happened if there were no insecurity at all,” Mefor said.
He called on residents to become more vigilant and report suspicious movements, activities and individuals to the appropriate authorities, explaining that timely information from citizens could help security agencies prevent attacks before they occur and protect communities from avoidable loss of lives and property.
Also speaking, the Director of Operations of the State Security Outfit, Agunechemba, Chief Chinenye Ihenko, said that the state-owned security outfit had continued to intensify its operations in collaboration with other security agencies to protect residents and contain criminal activities. Ihenko acknowledged that crime may not be completely eradicated, but said sustained cooperation among security agencies and communities had significantly improved the security situation in the state.
“Yes, you can’t eradicate it, but you can control crime. We’re bold to say that unlike what was obtainable years back, we’ve, in collaboration with other security agencies, fought criminality to a standstill and will continue to be on top of the game,” he said.
The “Unite Against Terror” campaign was not just a public procession, but also a renewed appeal for citizens to understand that the protection of lives and property requires the active participation of everyone, government, security agencies, traditional and community leaders, transport operators, businesses, youths and ordinary residents.
The campaign ended with renewed calls for stronger intelligence sharing, community engagement and cooperation between residents and security agencies.
Stakeholders emphasised that preventing terrorism and violent crime requires early reporting, public vigilance and a collective refusal to provide support, shelter or legitimacy to criminal elements.
The central message remained clear: peace is the foundation of development, and protecting Anambra from terrorism and violent criminality is a responsibility that belongs to everyone.
