By Ikenna Nwokedi
History was made on Monday, 17th February, 2025 as the Chairman, Dunukofia Local Government Area, Hon. Barr. Chijioke Ozumba held a security meeting with Non-Indigenes and Hoteliers of Ifitedunu Community.
The meeting and special interactive session held at the Ifitedunu Civic Centre was facilitated by the President-General of Ifitedunu under the leadership of Comrade Steven Ufoaroh.
In his separate opening remarks with the two groups, Comrade Ufoaroh stated that the essence of the meeting is to inundate the community dwellers who are non-indigenes and providers of the hospitality about the existence of recently enacted 2025 Anambra State Homeland Security Law by the State Government, the need to inform them about the provisions of the Homeland Security Law and ways to ensure adequate security in the community by stemming the tide of insecurity not just in the community but the Local Government Council at large.
On her part, the DSS officer in charge of Dunukofia LGA, Detective Joy Awudu harped on the importance of speaking out by non-indigenes when they notice or come across actions by persons in the community which fuels insecurity in the land. She advised the non-indigenes of Ifitedunu Community to ensure that they identify with the Village heads of their community disclosing their identity, place of residence and occupation for proper documentation.
The DSS officer also admonished the owners and operators of the Hotels in Ifitedunu Community to ensure that there is adequate documentation of identity of persons who wish to lodge in their facilities and ensure they make available the hotel manifest on weekly basis to authorities of which failure to do so will be seen as an act of sabotage, aiding and abetting criminality in the community. She assured the community dwellers and the hoteliers that law enforcement agencies as turbocharged towards addressing any security challenges in the Community.
In his remarks, the mayor of Dunukofia, Barr. Chijioke Ozumba thanked Gov. Soludo for the proactive measures taken towards curbing the menace of insecurity in the state. The local government leader reminded the community dwellers and the hoteliers that the present Government under the leadership of Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo has taken drastic measures on security and safety issues in the State, including Dunukofia LGA which led to the enactment of the 2025 Anambra State Homeland Security Law.
Barr. Ozumba advised the non-indigenes and hoteliers to ensure that no hard and illicit drug sales and activities are allowed within the community and their facilities as according to the Homeland Security Law, culprits when apprehended will be made to face the full weight of the law and in furtherance the State Government will not only arrest persons that perpetuate such crimes but also seal off the structures were the heinous activities take place with the maximum penalty being a jail term.
Barr. Ozumba said: “We thank Gov. Soludo for the proactive measures toward addressing security challenges in the state via signing into law the 2025 Anambra Homeland Security Law and the advent of the Operation Udo Ga Chi and Agunechemba. Let us be reminded that it is our duty in ensuring that the efforts of the present Government towards achieving a livable and progressive Anambra is achieved with adequate security measures being in place at various levels.
“If you see something, say something, this is why I am giving out my phone number and security hot lines to enable the non-indigenes of Ifitedunu Community and hoteliers to report any illegal activities in and around the community,” Ozumba stated.
The Mayor went further to warn the community dwellers and hoteliers to ensure they abide by the provisions and ethos of the Homeland Security Laws as no persons, individuals or group is a sacred cow as all who contravene the laws will be severely punished. He commended the PG of Ifitedunu Community, Comrade Ufoaroh for his visionary leadership, dedication and commitment towards ensuring that Ifitedunu Community remains safe and peaceful for all dwellers to go about their daily activities.
The mayor went further to release the Security Emergency numbers as 112 and 5111 while 08002200008 was also made public for security alert.
Also lending his voice during the meeting was the Secretary of Dunukofia LGA and erstwhile President-General of Umudioka Community, Dr. Uchenna Malobi. In their separate vote of thanks, Chief Ralph Nwakasi, CEO of Sapon Hotel and Mr. Ekong Akpan who spoke on behalf of the hoteliers and non-indigenes respectively promised that they will be law abiding and ensure their actions are in conformity with the Homeland Security Laws.
Also present during the meeting were members of Congress of Councilors, Supervisory Councillors, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) incharge of Dunukofia LGA and executives of the Ifitedunu Town Union (ITU).
