The Onitsha community has issued a stern warning to criminals, declaring they will no longer be tolerated or harbored within the town.
President-General of Onitsha Improvement Union, Sir Chike Ekweogwu, made this declaration during a press briefing following the cancellation of a planned solidarity march in honor of the late lawmaker, Hon. Justice Azuka, who was kidnapped on December 24, 2024, and later found dead under the Second Niger Bridge.
Ekweogwu stressed that the march was intended not only to mourn Hon. Azuka but also to send a strong message to criminals to leave Onitsha immediately. He warned that the community is determined to rid itself of crime and criminal elements, regardless of their origin.
“Onitsha will no longer tolerate spiritualists, herbalists, kidnappers, murderers, and body part dealers,” he declared. “If anyone wants to earn money genuinely, Onitsha is a fertile ground for business. But for criminal activities, the people of Onitsha say no!”
Although the planned march was canceled over concerns that politicians might hijack it for their interests, the community remains firm in its resolve against crime.
Ekweogwu also pledged full support for Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s Agunechemba Security Project, which is aimed at combating crime across Anambra State. He called on leaders of all 179 communities in the state to support the initiative and collaborate with the government to make Anambra safer.
He further announced that Onitsha groups, in partnership with the traditional ruler, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, are working to establish a foundation to support Hon. Azuka’s widow and children.
Dismissing rumors of a rift between Governor Soludo and Igwe Achebe, Ekweogwu affirmed that the traditional ruler remains a respected figure committed to peace and collaboration with the state government.
The Onitsha community’s declaration sends a clear message—criminal elements are no longer welcome, and the town is committed to reclaiming peace and security.
