By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

Onitsha, Anambra State—The Onitsha community has issued a stern warning to criminals, both indigenes and non-indigenes, declaring that they will no longer be tolerated or harbored within the town.

The President-General of Onitsha Improvement Union, Sir Chike Ekweogwu, made this declaration during a press briefing following the cancellation of a planned solidarity march meant to honor the late lawmaker, Hon. Justice Azuka, who was kidnapped on December 24, 2024, and later found dead under the Second Niger Bridge.

Sir Ekweogwu emphasized that the intended march was not just to mourn Hon. Azuka, but to send a strong message that criminals must leave Onitsha immediately.

“The aim of the solidarity march was to tell criminally minded individuals that Onitsha will no longer tolerate or accommodate them. The town is bigger than all of them put together, and they must relocate—whether outside Anambra State or even Nigeria. We are tired of the pain they cause us,” he declared.

However, the planned demonstration was called off amid concerns that politicians could hijack it for their interests. Despite this, the community remains firm in its stance against crime.

“Onitsha will no longer tolerate spiritualists, herbalists, kidnappers, murderers, and body part dealers. If anyone wants to earn money genuinely, Onitsha is a fertile ground for business. Take a shop, register, and sell your products legally. But for criminal activities, the people of Onitsha say no!” Sir Ekweogwu stated firmly.

The Onitsha President-General also pledged full support for Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s Agunechemba Security Project, an initiative aimed at combating crime across Anambra State.

“As President-General, it is my duty to support the government’s security policies to make Anambra a safer place. I believe my colleagues in the state’s 179 communities will work with the government to achieve this goal,” he affirmed.

Sir Ekweogwu further revealed that various Onitsha groups, in collaboration with the traditional ruler of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, are working on establishing a foundation to provide both immediate and long-term support for Hon. Azuka’s widow and three children.

Additionally, he dismissed rumors of a rift between Governor Soludo and Igwe Achebe, insisting that the traditional ruler remains a respected figure who would not engage in conflicts with the governor.

The Onitsha community’s latest declaration sends a clear message—criminal elements are no longer welcome, and the town is committed to reclaiming peace and security.