Time for a critical conversation on operation Udogachi and its mandate
By Okechukwu Nwanguma
There is an urgent need for stakeholders in Anambra State to have an honest and constructive conversation about what appears to be an increasing deviation of Operation Udogachi from its core mandate of supporting efforts to combat crime and insecurity.
The outfit was established to assist in protecting communities from criminal activities such as kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, and other threats to public safety. It was not created to serve as an arbiter in land disputes or to become involved in matters that are essentially civil in nature.
Recent reports concerning the arrest and continued detention of 68-year-old Chief John Nneli of Achalla raise troubling questions. According to information available to us, Chief Nneli and several members of his family were taken from their home by operatives reportedly accompanied by individuals involved in a longstanding land dispute with him. While others have reportedly regained their freedom, concerns remain regarding the circumstances of the operation and the legal basis for the continued detention of Chief Nneli.
The issue here is bigger than one individual or one community dispute. It goes to the heart of public confidence in Anambra’s security architecture.
When security outfits become involved in land disputes, chieftaincy disputes, family disagreements, debt recovery matters, or other civil conflicts, they risk being perceived as instruments for advancing private interests rather than protecting public safety. Such perceptions can undermine the credibility and legitimacy of institutions established with the noble objective of securing our communities.
Security powers must never be used as substitutes for the courts. Land disputes are matters for competent judicial authorities and established dispute resolution mechanisms. The role of security agencies is to maintain peace and prevent violence, not to determine ownership rights or assist one party against another.
This is therefore a call for reflection, accountability, and corrective action. Stakeholders—including the Anambra State Government, security agencies, community leaders, civil society organizations, legal practitioners, and citizens—should engage in a frank discussion on:
• The statutory mandate and operational limits of Operation Udogachi;
• Safeguards against the misuse of the outfit in private disputes;
• Oversight and accountability mechanisms;
• Procedures for handling complaints involving civil matters; and
• Measures to ensure respect for constitutional rights and the rule of law.
Anambra State deserves a security architecture that is effective against criminals, accountable to the public, respectful of human rights, and insulated from private interests.
The case of Chief John Nneli presents an opportunity to examine these concerns and strengthen public confidence in our security institutions.
Let us have this conversation before public trust is eroded and before a well-intentioned initiative loses sight of its purpose.
Nwanguma is the executive director of Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC). He writes from Lagos
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