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My company shut down due to insecurity under Soludo – Ukachukwu *Six expatriates kidnapped
Business activities have been brought down in Anambra State, as a result of insecurity which has assumed an alarming rate since the coming of Chukwuma Soludo as governor, Nicholas Ukachukwu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the November 8 governorship election, said on Wednesday.
Ukachukwu, who claimed to be the largest employer of labour in the state outside the state government, while appearing as a guest of The Morning Show, a breakfast programme on ARISE NEWS, said six of his expatriates were kidnapped at one time or the other, adding that he was not happy at the turn of events, but could not help the issue.
Hear him: “When somebody sets out to invest in his state, it means he loves the state. Don’t forget, I live in Abuja, but it can only take us to develop us. I don’t see you can see in the whole state where a Yoruba man or Hausa man having investments or factories. It’s only the Igbo that can do it in other states.
“So, I said, what can we do in order to develop our state and I set out. I’m happy they said I built 12 industries. Yes, it’s something one cannot, but they said some of them are not working. I used to have 74 expatriate workers who lived and worked in that factory. Six of them had been kidnapped at one particular time or the other and we paid heavily.
“Some of those factories by their nature cannot function without those expatriates and no matter what we were paying – at a time we had to increase salaries, increase allowances, we had to get insurance – and then when it couldn’t work anymore.
“Who is not happy that that factory is not working? Nobody, because I sank in so much money, to put up that factory. But the insecurity and other indices and indicators that make the place work – don’t forget Anambra State used to be the biggest market in West Africa – but can we say it is still the same? Of course, the answer is no.
“The indicators, the things that make business work that make people come and invest in a state, they are no longer there. That is why many companies are leaving. It is not a small factory. It is an international conglomerate that I put up. But unfortunately, the security situation and the other enablers that are the key factor – like what we spent on light and other things, could not help it.
“Then, we said, fine, what do we do? We had to shut it down and see how those things can come to bear. It is not only there, many of the other major factories in Nigeria are leaving, especially the ones as big as our own. So, that’s what happened. It’s something everybody from Anambra State and even Nigeria – we used to export everywhere. But now it is no longer the same.
“And that’s what we’re talking about. Those things have to be on ground if Nigeria has to grow and everybody has to play his role. And that’s what happened. But they said at least I built a factory. I used to be the highest employer of labour after the state government. It’s because of my love for my people and not for any other thing. I would have built it in Lagos, I would have built it in any other place.”
“Right now we’re building a cement factory in Port Harcourt, because that one has to be near the water. That’s what I’m talking about. We’ve been investing in the economy, not because of politics because our people have to be employed and things have to change.”
Against the backdrop of allegations from the Soludo camp that he would run the state like his private business, Ukachukwu said that approach was actually what was needed in moving the state to its potentials, arguing that his vision for the state centred on treating governance like a business, with measurable outcomes and visible dividends for the people.
Hear him: “Anambra State needs to be run as a business, so that people should see, because we are managing the collective wealth of the people. Every country worldwide, every government worldwide, every business worldwide, if you’re not running government as a business, dividends and profits cannot come out of it.
“Look at Nigeria, for instance. Maybe we’ve not gotten there yet, but if you look at it, it’s the first time that we’re not relying on oil revenue to run the budget of this country, because nobody knew that we can generate as much as what we’re generating now.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed the judgement of the federal high court in Abuja nullifying the timelines issued for the conduct of party primaries and the nomination of candidates.
Alex Izinyon SAN, leading a team of lawyers of the commission in a notice of appeal dated May 25, raised nine grounds it urged the appellate court to consider and vacate the judgment the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered on May 20.
Apart from raising the issue of jurisdiction, which it said the lower court did not determine, INEC also maintained that the legal action the Youth Party (YP) initiated against it was not only hypothetical but academic.
Arguing that failure of the trial court to make pronouncements on the issues, resulted in the denial of fair hearing to the Appellant, the commission also stressed the lower court misinterpreted the provisions of the electoral act.
It said: “The high court erred in law when it held that: ‘It is clear from the wordings of Sections 29(1), 82 and 84 of the Electoral Act, 2026, the following can be understood. Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026 mandates Political Parties to submit the names of candidates in prescribed forms of the candidates who emerged from its valid primaries which such a political party intends to sponsor at the elections, not later than 120 days before the date of the General Election.
“What is required of Political Parties to do under the Electoral Act, 2026 is to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 21 days before the holding of its primaries, congresses or conventions, days before the holding of its primaries, congresses or conventions, or any conference or meeting convened for the election of its executive committees, other governing bodies for nominating candidates.
“The Defendant is not mandated to impose a timeframe for political parties to conduct their primaries provided that it will be done and submitted not later than the 120 days provided by the Electoral Act, 2026. See Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.”
It was another day of misery in Kwara State, when daredevil terrorists reportedly stormed Yashikira Community in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, and as has been the case in many of the attacks, abducting scores of residents including women and children.
But, apparently to register their authority, the gunmen, who were said to have operated for hours without challenge from the security operatives, were said to have torched the palace of the Emir.
The attackers, which reportedly occurred late Sunday night were said to have announced their presence through heavy firing and after storming the palace of the monarch during the period, set it on fire before whisking away their victims, but a similar attempt at the police station in the community, was repelled.
While some of the residents, narrated how the spent hours without resistance, leaving behind destruction and fear in the border community, another account said the villagers were caught unawares as the gunmen invaded the town under the cover of darkness.
However operatives made up of the police and military personnel, were said to have launched a manhunt immediately for the immediate rescue of the victims, including throwing a cordon in the area as part of the mission.
“The suspect offered ₦500 million to the SPU commander in an attempt to make the team stand down and allow him to contact his associates to move the consignment elsewhere. The offer was rejected immediately and properly documented for further investigation.”
These were the exact words of Olohundare Jimoh Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), with which he detailed how operatives of the Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) scoffed at a N500million bribe to turn their eyes off the importation of a huge consignment of drugs imported into the country.
This was part of the details of a major breakthrough by the operatives after bursting a major drug trafficking syndicate in Lagos, which led to the seizure of suspected illicit drugs estimated at ₦7.8 billion and arresting several suspects, including the alleged kingpin.
In the operation, reportedly carried out by officers of the Special Protection Unit (SPU) in collaboration with divisional police detectives, the operatives, were said to have stormed a house in Mende, Maryland area of Lagos, following months of surveillance and intelligence gathering coordinated by the Zone 2 Headquarters.
The recovered drugs consisted of hundreds of bags of suspected Canadian Loud, allegedly stored in the residence of the prime suspect, Jimoh, said disclosing that the suspect was apprehended on May 19 after weeks of strategic monitoring by operatives.
Offering further details, he said the operation was executed with technical support and guidance from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, alongside coordinated efforts between the SPU and divisional police teams.
Jimoh revealed that during the operation, the suspect allegedly attempted to bribe the SPU commander with ₦500 million to compromise the mission and allow the movement of the drug consignment.
The AIG described the development as a reflection of the renewed professionalism and operational discipline being entrenched in the Force under the current policing strategy.
He noted that the success of the operation underscored the importance of deploying specialized police units alongside conventional divisional teams in tackling organized crime.
According to him, the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of rapid containment strategies, intelligence-led policing, and professional conduct among the operatives involved in the raid.
“Rapid containment was achieved as the Special Protection Unit worked with divisional teams to secure the perimeter and prevent escape or interference with evidence.
“The operation was intelligence-driven, following months of surveillance and technical monitoring before the raid was carried out.
“The immediate rejection and documentation of the bribe attempt also reflect the standard expected from redeployed personnel at the divisional level,” Jimoh added.
Reacting to the development, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, commended the operatives for their professionalism, saying the success of the operation validated the ongoing redeployment of personnel to divisions and units across Lagos and Ogun states.
The IGP noted: “Policing must be close to the people, and our specialized units must work side by side with divisional teams on the ground.
“The professionalism shown by the SPU commander in rejecting a ₦500 million bribe and following due procedure is the standard we expect. It shows that when you put your best foot forward at the grassroots, you get results and restore public trust.”
Disu further assured that the Force leadership would continue to reward integrity while holding officers accountable to the highest ethical standards.
Police authorities said exhibits recovered during the operation have been properly documented and will be tendered in court. The suspects are currently in custody while investigations continue to track down other members of the drug trafficking network.
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