The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, to urgently scale up security efforts following a renewed wave of violent attacks across the state after the conclusion of the governorship election.
National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, in a statement on Monday, expressed concern over what it described as a resurgence of insecurity, warning the governor not to lose focus on the primary responsibility of safeguarding lives and property.
HURIWA particularly condemned a deadly attack by unidentified gunmen near Afor Market Junction in Nawfia community, Njikoka Local Government Area, on Sunday, during which several residents were reportedly killed.
According to eyewitness accounts cited by the group, the attackers arrived in a commando-style operation, opening fire indiscriminately on unsuspecting members of the community, triggering panic as residents fled for safety.
“The attack was sudden and brutal. People were killed without warning, and chaos followed immediately,” the group quoted a witness as saying.
HURIWA lamented that government-funded security agencies and state-backed vigilante operatives were reportedly absent at the time of the attack, describing the situation as deeply troubling.
Videos of the incident circulating on social media reportedly show residents running for their lives, with some victims lying lifeless on the ground.
Confirming the incident, the President-General of the Nawfia Progressive Union, Chief Daniel Okoye, said relevant security agencies had been contacted and investigations were ongoing to identify the perpetrators. He condemned the violence and urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security operatives.
Reacting to the development, HURIWA described the killings as “despicable and reprehensible,” urging Governor Soludo to strengthen the state’s counter-terrorism and crime-prevention strategies.
The organisation warned that post-election fatigue may have weakened Anambra’s security architecture, alleging that the state’s vigilante outfit, Agu Na Eche Mba, has deviated from its core mandate of protecting citizens and is now more focused on revenue collection in urban areas.
HURIWA stressed that restoring peace in Anambra requires renewed commitment, effective coordination of security forces and refocusing vigilante operations on intelligence gathering and community protection.