By Chinaza Osigwe
Residents of Anambra State have called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo and security agencies to intensify efforts in tackling insecurity, to create a safer environment for farming activities as the new planting season begins.
The call was made during a town hall meeting on security issues organized by CLEEN Foundation in collaboration with News Central TV on Thursday in Awka.
Speaking at the event, Mrs. Georgina Akunyiba, Coordinator of the Small Farmers Association in Anambra, lamented that growing insecurity was threatening food production in the state. According to her, farmers are now restricted to cultivating only areas around their homes for fear of attacks.
“Our members can no longer access farmlands in Ihiala and parts of Awka North due to the activities of hoodlums who rape and kill farmers. Homestead farming cannot guarantee food security. We urge the governor to do more to ensure the safety of farmers,” Akunyiba appealed.
Prof. Dennis Aribodo, a lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, shared similar concerns, noting that insecurity had made it impossible for him to visit his hometown of Azia in Ihiala Local Government Area. He also decried alleged abuses by some security operatives meant to protect the citizens.
He said NAU’s College of Agriculture in Ayamelum, which sits on a large expanse of farmland, remains underutilized due to persistent insecurity.
Also speaking, Favour Obioha, Coordinator of Small-scale Farmers in Awka North, echoed the call for enhanced security measures to enable farmers to return to their fields.
A media practitioner, Mrs. Nneka Chimezie, while commending Governor Soludo’s ongoing security initiatives, warned that the presence of no-go areas in parts of the South-East remained a major concern. She criticized the military’s approach, suggesting that a more focused strategy on non-state actors could reduce tensions.
For persons with disabilities, Ugochukwu Okeke, representing the community, highlighted how insecurity disproportionately affected their freedom and safety. He also alleged that they faced discrimination when dealing with security agencies due to their financial vulnerability.
Traditional rulers present at the meeting, including Igwe Ben Chukwuemeka of Umueri and Igwe Ohochukwu Daniel of Nawfia, stressed the need for better regulation of grazing activities and stronger enforcement of the state’s anti-open grazing law. They also advocated for a review of police recruitment and budgeting systems to strengthen internal security mechanisms.
In his remarks, Mr. Kayode Akintemi, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of News Central TV, urged the media to speak boldly about security challenges while promoting peaceful solutions. He pledged that his organization would continue giving a platform to the voices of ordinary Nigerians.
Participants at the town hall recommended several strategies to address insecurity, including drug control initiatives, regulation of grazing activities, effective training of vigilante groups, and measures to prevent farmer-herder clashes.
