A wave of fear and outrage has gripped Awada, a bustling community in Anambra State, following a violent invasion of the Awada Central Landlords Association office by a combined force of the Special Anti-Touting Squad (SASA) and the Agunechemba Squad. The shocking raid, which took place on Friday evening, saw security operatives abduct three individuals, including two vigilante members and a female cashier, while allegedly looting valuables worth millions of naira.
The chaos reportedly stemmed from a scuffle between SASA operatives and residents of Orsumoghu Street, who accused the security personnel of relentless harassment and extortion. Eyewitnesses revealed that SASA, in conjunction with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s security outfit Operation Udo Ga-Achi, stormed the landlords’ office in retaliation, unleashing mayhem.
“They vandalized properties, smashing windows, office doors, and even setting ablaze motorcycles belonging to the local vigilante unit,” an eyewitness, who spoke anonymously, told SaharaReporters. “They carted away two English pump-action rifles, mobile phones, security gadgets, and an undisclosed sum of money running into thousands of naira.”
The Chief Security Officer of the Awada Central Landlords Association, Uchechukwu Jude Ukachi, condemned the attack, describing it as a deliberate act of sabotage. He recounted how the trouble started after SASA operatives clashed with street boys in Orsumoghu.
“My men were only trying to mediate and understand the situation when suddenly, the SASA operatives abandoned their fight with the street boys and turned on my men instead,” Ukachi lamented. “They attacked us, and when my commander, Chukwuemeka Okoye, retrieved their vehicle keys to de-escalate the situation, they retaliated with full force.”
Ukachi further revealed that after taking the SASA vehicle key to prevent further violence, he later attempted to return it, only to find the operatives had vanished. “I even left word that they could collect the key from our office, but instead, they returned with armed reinforcements to unleash destruction, looting, and abductions,” he said.
The Vice Chairman of the Awada Central Landlords Association, Chief Walter Ohiri, decried the consistent intimidation of residents by SASA operatives. He alleged that the security unit regularly extorted locals, demanding ransoms between ₦150,000 and ₦400,000 to release arbitrarily arrested individuals.
“This is not the first time these operatives have stormed our community under flimsy pretenses,” Ohiri stated. “Their presence is more of a terror squad than a security outfit. We cannot continue to live in fear.”
Responding to the allegations, SASA’s Administrative Officer admitted that their operatives raided the Landlords Association office but justified the action, claiming their men had been attacked first.
“Our officers were assaulted by security personnel at the scene. They even seized our vehicle key, which prompted the search of the office,” he explained. However, he denied allegations of looting and abduction, insisting that the operation was aimed at retrieving their property.
Following public outcry, the Anambra State Police Command has stepped in to mediate the crisis. The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed that peace had been restored, adding that a dialogue between the involved security outfits was underway.
“We have engaged key stakeholders to facilitate an amicable resolution,” Ikenga stated.
Despite the police intervention, concerns linger over the unchecked power of security outfits in the state. The landlords and residents of Awada are now calling for a full-scale investigation into the incident and demanding justice for those victimized in the brutal raid.
As tensions simmer, one question remains—will this be the last time armed security units take the law into their own hands, or will Awada witness another terrifying night of impunity?
PIONEER NEWS 