ANAMBRA: RAGE OF UNKNOWN GUNMEN

Akani Alaka writes on the fears about the November 6 Anambra governorship election following unrelenting attacks by gunmen.

Bloodcurdling killings attributed to ‘unknown gunmen’ continued across the South-east last week. As at the time of writing this story, the latest of the carnages was last Tuesday’s attack on the venue of a rally organized by All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, at Odoata Central School Field, Ihiala, Anambra State.

A soldier was shot during the over an-hour shootout between the gunmen and security operatives in the Anambra Governor, Willie Obiano’s convoy. No fewer than six people reportedly lost their lives, while several people were injured in the encounter.

The attackers allegedly came from Mgbidi in Imo State, a neighbouring local government with Ihiala in Anambra State.

Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed the attack, said one AK 47 riffle, two magazines with 30 rounds of ammunition and a Toyota Hilux van were recovered from the attackers.

Earlier in Isu and Onicha-Igboeze communities of the Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State the gunmen had killed no fewer than 10 persons, including two policemen and two lawyers.

According to reports, the unfortunate lawyers had run into the gunmen who proceeded to drag them out of their vehicles and wasted no time in killing them.

The gunmen left the scene with the lawyers’ vehicle with their families now left to mourn them. Such intermittent killings by gunmen, alleged to be members of the Eastern Security Network, the militant arm of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, have continued to be a source of serious concern to stakeholders in the South-east.

The killings have intensified with the arrest and repatriation of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of IPOB to Nigeria from Kenya by the Federal Government in July 2021. IPOB had in reaction to the arrest and detention, declared a sit-at-home protest or ‘ghost Mondays’ across the South-east about two months ago.

Though IPOB had since called off the sit-at-home protest, there was hardly any Monday where there were no killings, arson and destruction of property by members of the group trying to still enforce the ghost Monday. Anambra and Imo states especially have witnessed the most violent attacks in the past few weeks.

At least 10 persons were killed in a series of attacks in Onitsha, Awka, Nkpor, Ajalli, Ukpor, Nnewi, Nnobi areas of the state two weeks ago, with Dr. Chike Akunyili, the husband of the former Minister of Information and Director-General of NAFDAC, the late Professor Dora Akunyuli, his police orderly and driver among the victims.

Rampaging Gunmen Keep Politicians Out of Anambra Streets

The killing of Akunyili who was returning from an event in which his late wife was honoured provoked outrage in the South-east and nationally.

In a demonstration of his determination to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice, the Anambra governor had declared a reward of a bounty of N20 million for information on those behind the killings.

Despite the bounty, nobody has come forward as of the time of writing this story last week with information on the killers of the medical doctor and others.

Worse still, the gunmen have also begun attacking politicians and offices of political parties Anambra in what some commentators have described as the actualization of the declaration of IPOB that it would no longer allow elections to hold in the South-east. Anambra governorship election is scheduled to hold on 6 November. Indeed, it was believed that Akunyili was killed because his assassins believed he was a politician as he was accompanied by police orderly and rode in a Prado SUV usually associated with political officeholders. A video taken at the scene of the late minister’s husband’s killing shows people chanting “No election in Anambra.” There have been attacks on members of APC and other political parties during meetings in various parts of the state.

The politicians lost their vehicles and some of their aides, including drivers to the unknown gunmen. Offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC have also been set ablaze in some parts of the state. 

The attacks had created an atmosphere of fear and siege in Anambra with the two major political parties in the election announcing the suspension of their campaigns. “In the past few days, we have witnessed an alarming escalation of deadly violence in Anambra. We lost an eminent son and several others in what appears to be a renewed violent campaign by bandits. Yesterday, a prominent Nigerian public servant, medical doctor, and a stalwart of PDP, Lawrence Ezenwa, was killed in Nnewi South Local Government Area of the state. Ezenwa, who is from Abia, was visiting his wife’s village, Ukpo in Nnewi South, when he met his demise, his driver was also shot and killed.

“On the same day, a vehicle belonging to a federal lawmaker, Rep. Chris Azubogu, was attacked and his driver killed in cold blood. As a leader, I find the latest violence disturbing and condemnable and I call for a stop to all acts of violence, particularly against the innocent.

“Due to this development, and in line with my belief that no life is worth anybody’s ambition, I suspended all my campaign rallies and public appearances scheduled for this week,”  Valentine Ozigbo, the PDP governorship candidate remarked in a statement in which he announced a temporary suspension of his campaign rallies.

However, in announcing the postponement of the flag-off of his campaign, Andy Uba, the candidate of APC had attributed the insecurity and killings to failures of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, government of Obiano and politics.

“I have also watched with disdain, obvious breakdown of institutional capacity and the inability of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)-led state government to address security challenges and prevent the state from further descent into anarchy and chaos. My sincere condolences to all who have lost loved ones in the ongoing politically motivated killings in Anambra,” Uba said in a statement he issued on 0ctober 2, the same day PDP issued its statement.

INEC Determined To Organise Anambra Election

Speaking at an emergency meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mahmoud Yakubu said information available to the Commission indicated that the intention of those attacking its offices and other public institutions in the state was to ensure that the governorship election does not hold.

He, however, warned that if the destruction of materials and facilities to be used for the election by the arsonists continue, the ongoing preparations for the election would be adversely affected. He noted that INEC’s State Office at Awka was attacked and all the non-sensitive materials assembled for the election at the time were destroyed during an earlier attack in May.

This, he said, was in addition to the destruction of the collation centre and the main office building of INEC in the state at the time.

“The Commission also lost several vehicles to be used for the election. From the reports we have received, the stated goal of many of the attackers is that the governorship election scheduled for 6th November 2021 must not hold. This is worrisome for the Commission. We are deeply concerned that specific electoral facilities and materials could once more become targets of attack.

“Happily, we have almost fully recovered from that attack. The destroyed buildings have either been completely repaired or are nearing completion and we have fully replaced the materials destroyed. This rapid recovery has only been possible because this is an off-season election.

We have sourced some of these materials such as the 326 electric generators and vehicles destroyed in the attack from neighbouring states.

However, should we again lose vital materials and facilities, the ongoing preparations will be adversely affected,” the INEC chairman said while assuring the people of Anambra of the determination of the Commission to go on with the governorship election.

Outrage Over ‘State Of Emergency Twist’

But in a twist which many Nigerians suspected was tainted with a political bent, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami told journalists recently that the Federal Government might be forced to declare a state of emergency in Anambra State to ensure that the election was not threatened by the ongoing violence. “So, what I am saying in essence, no possibility is out ruled by the government in terms of ensuring the sanctity of our democratic order, in terms of ensuring that our election in Anambra holds and you cannot out rule possibilities inclusive of the possibility of a declaration of a state of emergency where it is established, in essence, that there is a failure on the part of the state government to ensure the sanctity of security of lives, property and democratic order,” Malami told journalists at the end of the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council.

The declaration was met by protests from the Anambra government and other Nigerians. For the Anambra government, Malami’s assertion is another confirmation of the suspicion that the politicians outside the state are working with their collaborators at the local level to cause insecurity in the state.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba, the Anambra government wondered why the Federal Government was keen to declare a state of emergency on a state where there had been considerably fewer killings and not in areas where mass slaughter of Nigerians was being recorded daily. 

“Not up to 15 persons have lost their lives since the new spectre of violence in Anambra State. For a state that has for the past seven years enjoyed the well-deserved reputation of being Nigeria’s safest and most peaceful state, this number is pretty high. But it is not even a fraction of the casualties the nation has seen in places like Borno, Zamfara, Katsina, Benue, Plateau, Yobe, Niger, Adamawa, Taraba, and others where terrorists have not only killed several thousands of civilians but also successfully attacked military formations and slaughtered soldiers and other security officers,” Adinuba said.

He also noted that the assertion by Malami was an indictment on President Muhammadu Buhari’s government as the Federal Government is in total control of the security apparatuses. “It seems that since these politicians have proved unable to intimidate the Anambra people from coming out to participate in the election, they have resolved to impose an emergency rule on the state,” the Commissioner added.

Speaking in the same vein, APGA in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Tex Okechukwu, said the rationale behind the planned state of emergency in Anambra State is questionable with less than one month to the governorship election.

For the opposition PDP, the suggestion was part of the plot by the ruling party to rig the Anambra election in favour of its candidate. The party alleged that the suggestion to foist an emergency rule in Anambra State was a ploy by the APC-led government to suppress the people, manipulate the process and rig the governorship election for the APC and its candidate. 

“This demand is predicated on apprehensions in the public space that the spate of insecurity in Anambra is contrived to heighten tension in the state to derail the democratic process to the advantage of the APC,” the opposition party said in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.

State Of Emergency Plot By APC To Steal Anambra Election, Buhari Not In Support

Still worried about the plot, Governor Obiano penultimate Thursday stormed the Aso Rock presidential villa where he met with President Buhari.

The governor came out of the meeting to tell journalists that the president was not part of the plot to impose a state of emergency on Anambra ahead of the governorship election. “Well, that’s a very unfortunate comment by the Attorney-General Malami. Very, very unfortunate. I also reported that to the president and this is not in the books for the president because he knows that Anambra has been the safest state in Nigeria for seven years plus. These invaders from outside Anambra State, from the neighbouring towns, we are going to deal with them. We’re already working, there’s nothing really,” Obiano said.

“Even to contemplate the state of emergency is unfortunate. Look at what is happening in the North; they kill dozens every day because less than 15 people were killed in Anambra in two weeks, is that a reason for somebody to call for a state of emergency? That’s a very unfortunate comment by Malami. I will call him to express reservation on those kinds of comments. He shouldn’t try that,” the governor added.

He also repeated claims that the move might have been part of the ploy to rig the governorship election in favour of APC as the attorney-general is a member of his party’s campaign committee for the election.

“Anambra is doing well and don’t forget that Malami is on the National Campaign Committee for the APC candidate. So, if that’s their strategy, then, they failed already. Come to the ballot box, APGA will win and win hands down. They are trying to see how they can destabilise us. No, APC has no room in Anambra; there’s no party called APC in Anambra. Anambra is APGA,” Obiano asserted.

State Of Emergency Unconstitutional

Aside from the governor, lawyers had also said the Federal Government had no legal ground to declare emergency rule over Anambra. Chief Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria noted that declaration of a state of emergency is an issue that cannot be toyed with.

He noted that while Section 305 of the constitution permits the president to declare a state of emergency by way of Official Gazette, a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly must ratify the executive proclamation within two days. “This shows it is not solely an executive fait accompli. The legislature must be fully involved”, said the Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

The constitution, he noted, permitted the president to declare a state of emergency in case of war, actual breakdown of law and order and public safety, disaster or natural calamity or when the governor of a state with the sanction of resolution supported by a two-thirds majority of the House of Assembly, himself requests the president to so proclaim a state of emergency. But the lawyer said such a condition does not appear to be the situation in Anambra State as of now.

On his part, Femi Falana, SAN noted that the declaration of a state of emergency might likely involve the sacking of Governor Obiano from office. But he noted that the President was not vested with the power to remove a governor from office in the constitution. According to Falana, a governor can only be removed by impeachment or resignation and not by imposition of emergency rule.

“Even though former President Olusegun Obasanjo removed two governors via the imposition of emergency rule, the PDP-led Federal Government later jettisoned the illegal practice. Hence ex-Presidents Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan never used emergency rules to remove elected governors or suspend legislative houses and local government councils,” said the Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

He also argued that it was unjust and immoral to remove the governor of a state since the president exclusively controls the armed forces, the police, and other security agencies. “To that extent, the Federal Government should drop the dangerous plan to remove the governor of Anambra State and impose a sole administrator on the eve of the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state,” he said.

The Dangers Ahead For Anambra Governorship Election

Olubunmi Fagbuyinro, the founder of ‘Thumbs Don’t Lie’ a political awareness and advocacy group, however, told this newspaper that beyond the legal argument is the need to provide an atmosphere that will be conducive for the conduct of the election by INEC and for the people to come out and freely exercise their franchise.

He noted that with the current atmosphere of fear in Anambra and other South-east states, it may be difficult for INEC to even get the usual ad-hoc workers it uses for the conduct of the election. According to him, the issue of security is beyond INEC to handle, noting that the Commission had been forced to postpone elections in the past over security issues.

According to him, the fact that IPOB could force organisations to remove the Nigerian flag from their premises was a testimony to the fear that the group now generates among the people. He noted that the group had also said it would declare a one-month sit-at-home if its leader, Nnamdi Kanu was not brought to court for the hearing of his case which would come up before the end of October. “So, what will happen to the election if IPOB declared one-month sit at home and people cannot even move? Who will conduct the election? 

“There is a need to improve security in Anambra to build the confidence of the people ahead of the election. The fact that the streets are always dry whenever IPOB asks the people to stay at home is enough evidence that the group can sabotage the election. So, stakeholders in Anambra, the South-east and the Federal Government should work together and support INEC so that the election hold without the threat of attack by gunmen,” Fagbuyinro said.

IPOB has attributed the killings in Anambra and Imo states to “wicked and aggrieved politicians” who, according to the group “chose to slaughter their opponents and turn around to point accusing fingers at IPOB or the operatives of Eastern Security Network, ESN.” It also said, “no IPOB or ESN operative is involved in the barbarity of political killing, as it does not have any interest in Nigerian politics, since the restoration of Biafra is just its mandate.”

The group also said in a statement that it had not made its position on the Anambra election public, a claim that was contrary to its earlier declarations that it would not allow any election to take place in the South-east. “Our position on Anambra election will be made public at the right time through our normal channels of information dissemination. Anything to the contrary should be disregarded. Members of the public should stop believing social media fake stories purported to have emanated from IPOB. We are an organized movement and we don’t hide our position on any matter,” the group said in a statement by Emma Powerful, its spokesperson.

Analysts, however, said the group might have lost control of its members and the attack might continue despite anything the group might say to the detriment of the Anambra election in the days ahead. 

Meanwhile, the police and military have expressed the determination to ensure that the election is hitch-free.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Usman Baba, said last Thursday in Abuja that 34,587 operatives would be deployed in Anambra for the election.

The operatives would be drawn from Police Mobile Force, the Counter-Terrorism Unit, Special Forces, Explosive Ordnance Unit, Force Intelligence Bureau, INTERPOL, Special Protection Unit, conventional police officers and the medical team.

Baba added that three helicopters would be deployed for aerial surveillance while detachments of the Marine Police would also be deployed to ensure a safe, secure and credible electoral process.

Similarly, the Nigerian Army has also mapped out strategies to ensure that residents of the state enjoy peace and security before, during, and after the election.

Maj-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, who announced the plans when Brig-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), paid him a courtesy visit at the division’s headquarters in Enugu, assured that the army would also ensure the safety of corps members on electoral duties.