Anambra Group faults attack on James Nwafor, Ex-SARS Commander

By Covenant Oluchi Ikedinobi

Group in Anambra state under the aegis of Anambra Security Network (ASN) comprising of Nnewi Elders Forum (NEF), Awka Consultative Assembly(ACA), and Anambra Traders Union (ATU) among others yesterday faulted the barrage of attacks on, and conviction without trial of the former Anambra state Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) Commander, CSP James Nwafor, retired by some social media activists in the country.

In a Press statement made available to newsmen in Awka, Anambra State, the group said without James Nwafor as SARS commander armed robbers , kidnappers and other violent criminals would have sacked the entire State at the time they accused Nwafor of being high handed.

Spokesperson of the group , Chief Simon Okonkwo in the statement said without Nwafor, the entire South East would have been sacked from their respective States as prominent citizens of the States were not coming home again for fear of being abductrd.

The group said contrary to Igbo customs and tradition they were conducting traditional marriages in Abuja, Lagos and other places outside Igbo land where they were residing because of fear of being abducted and killed by suspected kidnappers.

The group’s statement made available to www.odogwublog.com reads further: “Most of the people condemning Nwafor lacked knowledge of the dynanics of hunting down criminals”.

Chief Okonkwo who insisted that Nwafor rescued many prominent persons in the State who were abducted by kidnapers between 2011 and 2017 , said he would have been killed if not for timely intervention of Nwafor and his SARS team. He stressed that Nwafor was instrumental to the resolution of Aguleri-Umuleri war,which had claimed about 2,000 people before he was drafted there.

” When he was deployed to take charge of the crisis, he employed alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to bring a lasting peace to the warring communities”.

Enumerating those Nwafor rescued from the claws of kidnappers in Nnewi,Awka, Onitsha, Ekwulobia ,Lagos, Owerri,PH and other parts of country, Chief Okonkwo listed them as follows:
Gozie Akudolu, former deputy Presidemt of Amalgamated Markets Traders of Anambra State (AMATAS), who was abducted and kept for 41 days in their den.

At that time, said Okonkwo who is also the chairman of the group, Nnewi indegenes and residents were contributing N200m every month for kidnappers but Nwafor stopped it when he dislodged them.

www.odogwublog.com reports that the group noted that one Vitus Ezekwueme, a flourishing trader at Onitsha drug market from Umuchu , one Ifeanyi from Ogbunike, an iron dealer at Uga junction, Onitsha, Ifezue, a trader at Main Market,from Aguluzuigbo, were all kidnapped in December 2012 but they have not been seen up till now.

“Nwafor stopped armed robbery in Anambra State,Imo and other parts of South East.

He chased away notorious Kidnappers like Evans from Anambra State.

He arrested Ofeakwu and rescued Dr. Udokwu of Udokwu Hospital, Amaifeke, Orlu in Imo State who was Achike Udenwa’s Chief of Staff (COS)” Dr. Udokwu was in the Kidnappers’ den for 7 months and was to pay N100m as ransom before his kidnappers were dislodged.

It was in the course of paying the money that the kidnappers were rounded up” the chairman said.

He also said that a Main Market business mogul was rescued at Aguleri, when his people went to pay the ransom of N5m, saying “Anambra citizens were relocating to other cities and countries, conducting traditional weddings outside the State against Igbo tradition.

Those who were accussing Nwafor of extra-judicial killings are uncharitable and not fair in their judgement, unless most benefited from kidnapping proceeds.

They are quite aware that criminals don’t go with empty hands but lethal weapons like AK-47,GMP Gun among other dangerous weapons.

In the course of exchange of fire such criminals can meet their death. Then they would blame Nwafor and SARS”.
Also speaking the secretary of the group, Chief Ozoemena Udechukwu, said in one of the operations, six SARS officers were killed by kidnapers but nobody is speaking for those officers who lost their lives on line of duty.

“Ofeakwu also gunned down 5 members of IGP Monitoring Team stationed at CPS Onitsha and made away with their guns at Okija junction in Ihiala local government area.

“Yes, it is true some SARS operatives went to the extreme, dehumanising and abusing suspects but selective condemnation of CSP Nwafor is unwarranted and uncalled for.

‘if you go back to the background of those who are accussing Nwafor, they have skeletons in their cupboard.

‘This is a man who put down his life for the people of Anambra State and the entire South East, rescued GUO Okeke,Pokobros, Tony Atakpo of Onitsha Drugs market, Late World Bank, one Benedict from Uga, who deals on iron rod at Uga Street, Fegge”.

It was Nwafor and his team that arrested the notorious Okey Rice and his gangs, who killed the traditional ruler of Osumogho and among other notorious robbers like Nwa jesus, Nwa Teacher,Ofeakwu,ogbuefi aka de killer among others.

“I think Nwafor should be commended instead of this vilification. People should live Nwafor alone, the group warned.

“We will do everything to defend him. We gave him title because he defended us at a time when nobody came to our rescue” he said

They therefore asked Nigerians and international coommunity to disregard those faceless people accusing Nwafor of extra-judicial killings.

“They are the enemies of Anambra State and the entire SouthEast and
People who thrive in insecurity of the State” the group cautioned.