Youth Corper assault: YPP governorship candidate leads protest, says, Anambra cannot afford to remain under siege

PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Some Aggrieved youths of Anambra, in collaboration with members of the Young Progressives Party, YPP, led by its party candidate, Paul Chukwuma, on Friday, took to the road to demand answers from Governor Chukwuma Soludo over what they described as worsening insecurity in the state.

Chukwuma, flanked by his running mate, Uzu Okagbue, and members of the Make Anambra Great Again (MAGA) movement, accused Soludo of mismanaging billions allegedly received from the Federal Government, alongside his humongous monthly security vote.

Speaking during the protest, Chukwuma said that information available to him shows that Abuja provides more than enough funds to keep Anambra safe and ensure welfare for the people.

He said, “The question is: where does the money go?” Soludo has nothing to offer Ndi Anambra, especially on security.”

The angry youths, chanting solidarity songs, marched from Aroma Junction along the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway before converging on the State Police Headquarters in Amawbia, where they were received by senior police officers.

Chukwuma further took a swipe on Soludo’s Agunechemba security outfit, accusing it of lawlessness and brutality.

While recalling the recent assault on a female corps member, Miss Jennifer Elohor, in Oba, Idemili South Local and Area of the state, the YPP governorship hopeful alleged that the outfit parades high-calibre prohibited weapons — a claim police sources confirmed is under investigation.

He added, “Security has broken down here with the full endorsement of the state government. Vigilantes now run the streets, dehumanising citizens in the name of protection.
This state belongs to all of us — no one is above the law.”

The protest, which witnessed massive participation, was described by Chukwuma as a “peaceful expression of the people’s anger.”

Responding, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Ibrahim Ezekiel, who represented the state Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, commended the protesters for being peaceful and assured them that their complaints would be looked into.

He said, “The command has already taken custody of the suspects linked to the assault on the NYSC member, and investigations are ongoing.

The police remain committed to safeguarding lives and property, and will engage stakeholders to address these concerns lawfully,” Ezekiel stated.

However, Chukwuma vowed to keep pressing until federal authorities take charge of security in the state.

He also warned that Anambra “cannot afford to remain a state under siege.”