Archbishop Okpala kidnap: Bishop Nwokolo worried over insecurity in Anambra, calls for urgent solutions

The Bishop on the Niger, Anglican Communion, Anambra State, the Rt Rev Dr Owen Nwokolo, has sent a passionate save-our-soul appeal to the Federal and Anambra State Governments to urgently articulate feasible solutions to what he described as disturbing insecurity in Anambra State.

He expressed deep concern on the apparent deteriorating security in the state, adding that insecurity was itself worsening the excruciating economic conditions of Ndi Anambra.

Nwokolo expressed concern in an interview during the dioconate ordination of the diocese held at the All Saints Cathedral, Onitsha over the issue of the former Archbishop of Province of Niger and former Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Prof. Godwin Okpala who was reportedly kidnapped in the early hours of Friday, December 6, 2024.

Expressing shock and disgust over the incident, Bishop Nwokolo remarked that apart from the archbishop’s case, there could be other kidnap victims across the state, adding that insecurity was nothing about to be glad.

Alarmed by the rate of insecurity prevalent in the state, the prelate called on the Federal and Anambra State Governments to quickly set up adequate security measures in the state to arrest the situation.

Underscoring the place of sound security in a state, he said that in any society: “where there is no security, there is always lack of advancement in any sector, for people will continue to live in fears and not be moving about freely”.

Although the bishop remarked that there was a grapevine that the state government was currently taking up some measures to improve security in the state, he said such measures ought to have been objectively felt by the people.

He therefore appealed not only to the state government but also to the federal government to: “please quicken any steps mooted to maintain adequate security in the state.”