Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra has announced a reward that could be as much as N5 million for a whistleblower who gives information that will lead to the arrest of kidnappers and armed robbers.

It is also available for anyone with information that would lead to discovery of their campsites and their round-up in the state.

Mr Soludo made the announcement at the formal launch of Operation ‘Udo Ga-Achi’,l (Peace shall Prevail), a joint security intervention force, on Saturday in Awka.

He said the security initiative was designed to safeguard the lives and well-being of all residents and visitors in the state.

According to him, there is the need for a collective action to fight insecurity as the acts and dynamics of criminality have evolved and become hydra-headed.

“We are taking a decisive action on security with the formal launching of Operation ‘Udo Ga-Achi’ because we are determined to fight criminality and ensure Anambra becomes the safest state.

“We need people in the communities to give information to security agencies through our toll free line – 5111.

“For whistleblowers, anyone that gives us credible information that leads to the arrest of any kidnapper or armed robber or information that leads to rounding up of criminals in a camp will be paid a bounty of any amount up to a maximum of N5 million (depending on the class of criminal).

“We encourage each community to design and execute its own security programme. On a monthly basis, any community with zero crime will get a reward of N10 million,” he said.

The governor said 2,000 personnel drawn from the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, State Security Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and a vigilante group known as ‘Agunechemba’, had been mobilised for the operation.

Mr Soludo said that 200 patrol vehicles had been procured and would be active in the nooks and crannies of the state.

“This operation is designed to tackle the rising insecurity in Anambra, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, drug epidemic, criminal idolatry, land grabbing, touting and other violent crimes.

“On the part of government, be rest assured that we are determined to take the criminals head-on and quadruple our efforts in security.

“For our long-term survival, we must rise up and fight together. If you see or know something, say or do something! Silence means complicity,” he said.

Earlier, the governor signed the Anambra State Homeland Security Bill 2025 into law to legalise the new security initiative in the state.

He also announced Igwe Chidubem Iweka of Obosi as the chairman, Anambra State traditional rulers’ council.

Speaking on behalf of security commanders, the Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Obono-Itam, commended the state government for the initiative and promised the readiness of security agencies to ensure Anambra is safe and secure.

(NAN)