ORGANIZED CRIME FACTS ANAMBRA STATE

ORGANIZED CRIME FACT Anambra State Insecurity has become a topic in Nigeria that a day with the colonization. absence of crime being perpetrated sends shudders. The Anambra State, carved out from the former Eastern region high rate of crime in Anambra State, in particular, sends on August 27, 1991, derives its name from the Anambra apprehension and fear, making both residents and citizens River. With the primary spoken language as Igbo, the cry and yell out to both the federal and state governments citizens are known to be very industrious. E-commerce's for urgent assistance in curbing the ugly situation in order to thriving nature and rich cultural festivals of mmanwu safeguard the lives and property of the populace. The (masquerade) and new yam festival are known to attract current situation is so devastating that the more security people from all across the globe for one business operatives are equipped with arms and ammunition to transaction or the other. Hence, the state is never devoid of combat crime, the more sophisticated these dare-devils visitors of different ramifications. Boasting of remarkable become in unleashing their menace. shrines like the famous Okija shrine that trended in early Criminality, though a negative phenomenon, has become a 2000, Otutu-nze shrine, Ogbunike cave and Agulu Lake, necessary part of every society. Anambra State has always captured the limelight since its The unfolding of each day brings with it different tales of creation. crime. From arson, cult-related killings, carnage to kidnap or Insecurity is not alien to the state as it is known to be one of suicide, mayhem and insecurity has become the order of the first states to produce the dreaded and feared Anambra the day. Vigilante Service (AVS), popularly known as Bakassi Boys. Although no nation can boast of immunity from crime, This group assisted the former governor Chinwoke however, every society's existence does not make it a Mbadinuju to simmer the crime and other violent acts within welcome development. Therefore, every society always the state. makes a great effort in combating crime, according to The adage that nothing (good) lasts forever comes to play Macionis and Plumer. when the tenure of then Governor Mbadinuju elapsed, During the pre-colonial era in Igbo society, crime and ushering in dark days of fear and trepidation back to the criminal elements were at their barest minimum as training state. The insecurity situation got to its peak where families children was then seen as a communal effort. Any adult can abandoned their homes' comfort to sleep in churches. caution any erring child, whether related or not. Upholding However, the Church was not spared of this waterloo. of security and prevention of crime became the August 6, 2017, saw some drug barons taking their fight responsibility of all agile people in the community. However, inside the Church in the middle of mass and massacring the entire scenario was disbanded with the coming of over 11 people on the spot.

1 Insecurity in Anambra State continues to worsen as the state. The terror currently within the state is such that economic hardship bites harder. The red light on the firecrackers' sound may even cause a pregnant woman to heightened spate of insecurity in the state was flagged with miscarry in fear and trembling. the attempted physical kidnap of the Chief Executive of the

Anambra State Crime Statistics from 2011-2017

Armed House Store Grievous Year Murder Robbery Kidnapping Rape Burglary Breaking Breaking Forgery Theft Harming 2011 8 81 57 80 16 103 165 36 720 40 2012 55 55 55 39 105 117 123 40 571 165 2013 42 11 30 10 43 34 11 7 337 157 2014 50 35 34 47 53 85 22 14 671 148 2015 56 14 15 28 58 101 9 6 590 224 2016 52 26 7 39 42 87 9 5 606 87 2017 41 6 0 27 22 76 7 1 484 84 Source: Nigeria Police Force, Awka, Anambra State Headquarters

Year Year 100 Statistics of Murder incidents 100 90 90 Statistics of Armed Robbery 80 in Anambra state 80 70 between 2011 - 2017 70 incidents in Anambra state 60 55 56 60 between 2011 - 2017 50 52 50 42 41 50 40 40 30 30 20 20 10 8 10 0 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2011 2012 2017 2013 2016 2015 2014

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Year 100 Statistics of Kidnapping incidents 2011 90 in Anambra state 2012 80 between 2011 - 2017 70 57 80 39 60 55 50 RAPE 2013 40 30 34 2011-2017 10 30 20 15 2014 7 10 0 2016 47 0 2015 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 27 201639 28

120 110 100 117 103 90 101 87

105 85 StatisticsYear of Burglary 80 100 70 76 90 incidents in Anambra state 60 80 70 between 2011 - 2017 50 60 58 40 53 30 50 43 34 40 42 20 30 22 10 20 16 10 0 2011 2012 2017 2013 2016 2015 0 2014 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 HOUSE BREAKING between 2011 - 2017

3 180 170 160 165 150 140 130 120 123 110 Year 100 100 90 Statistics of Forgery incidents 90 80 in Anambra state 80 70 70 60 between 2011 - 2017 60 50 40 50 40 36 40 14 30 30 20 20 22 7 6 10 5 1 10 11 9 9 7 0 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Store Breaking between 2011 - 2017

2012 2013 Year 2011 1000 165 157 900 40 800 720 2016 Grievous 700 671 606 Harming 2014 600 571 590 84 2011-2017 500 484 148 400 337 2016 300 200 87 2015 100 0 224 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Theft between 2011 - 2017

4 REVIEW OF SIX MONTHS INCIDENTS FROM OCTOBER 2020 TO MARCH 2021 (Source: Nigerian dailies)

March 18 2021 Hoodlums numbering over twenty with three Sienna buses and motorcycles engaged the police in a gun duel which lasted for over February 24, 2021 30minutes, killing a police officer at Okacha A police van razed, four police officers junction in Neni, Aniocha LGA and left killed in attacks at Mkpologwu, Aguata another injured. LGA and Omogho in Orumba North LGA.

Dec. 15. 2020 Angry mob set ablaze a police station Jan. 26, 2021 at Igboukwu, Aguata LGA, after a Assailants armed with March 16, 2021: AK47around Akpo, Gunmen ambushed a policeman killed a commercial Aguata LGA kidnapped vehicle belonging to the motorcyclist. an aide to a lawmaker Nigerian Correctional representing Oru West Service, Ekwuluobia, Constituency in Imo State. and killed two officers. March 17, 2021: Gunmen killed three police officers and naval officers in the state.

March 12, 2021: Herdsmen in the community allegedly kidnapped an undisclosed number of persons.

January 17, 2021: Communal clash among Aguleri, Umuleri and Omoba communities caused by land disputes resulted in at least two persons' death.

November 25, 2020: A native of Akwa Ibom state resident in Anambra state opted to sell her three-month-old baby due to the current hardship in the country.

FROM OCTOBER 2020 TO MARCH 2021 AGUATA LGA SEEMS TO BE THE HOTSTOP IN ANAMBRA STATE

5 From the above comparative statistical figures, crime in the state degenerated from widespread robbery as was seen from years 2011 to 2017 (burglary, theft, kidnapping, car snatching, pilfering/bag snatching) into attacks by gunmen and hoodlums, especially on police officers, where arms and ammunitions are carted away for stockpiling. According to the indigenes, this situation may be attributed to the lackadaisical attitude with which crime reports are treated by security operatives and their high-handedness in handling victims as corroborators. Also attributed to the heightened insecurity include the high rate of corruption and poor accountability, influx of people into the state in the guise of business activities, and lack of trust in public officials. Eons Intelligence gathered that the residents and indigenes have more faith in vigilante groups' capabilities as against the police. With the growing recommendation of community policing within the nation, the people believe that insecurity will be better curbed if community policing is granted full operational approval. However, concerns abound as to the training, remuneration, recruitment and retention of these groups in the long run. Eons Intelligence, therefore, recommends as follows: A combination team of Federal Security personnel and vigilante groups may be carefully scrutinized and employed to fight against insecurity in the state. They shall be held accountable for their actions, with improved security situations earning them rewards, while they may be reprimanded for the degeneration of same. The State government should upload their obligations in combating economic hardship in the state. The creation of more employment facilities should be encouraged to ameliorate the pain borne by residents and citizens. Those perpetrating crime and other violent acts should be duly brought to book without much ado.

6 About us Eons Intelligence is a strategic intelligence and advisory group which specializes in bespoke analysis of crime, political, economic risk and opportunities in Nigeria.

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