The attention of the Anambra State Government has been drawn to the misrepresentations of the unambiguous provisions of the new Anambra State Homeland Security Law 2025 and its express demands on the citizens and residents of the state by some town criers.
A town crier, in a misleading statement, was said to have been telling the people that henceforth, those wearing dreadlocks or sagging their trousers would be arrested. Similarly, another was said to have mentioned that women not wearing pants and bras would now be arrested.
These misleading statements made by these town criers are neither part of the new law nor a directive from the state government.
According to the State’s Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, “false information and misrepresentation of the new law needs to end because it has the potential to cause crisis and confusion., like the dress code issue, which is not part of the law.”
The government will now consider such misinformation to be intentional and fabricated to incite the public against the new security law and implementation structures such as Agunechemba and Operation Udo Ga-Achi, the security network that aims to purge the state of criminality, evil native doctors, sorcerers, and idolaters who prepare charms such as Oke-ite and Odeshi for criminals.
The statement contained that these evil acts by native doctors give the criminals blind courage with which they commit robberies, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.
According to Mefor, town Criers must now consult their communities’ Presidents-General before broadcasting any messages. Also, the Presidents-General will be held accountable if the broadcasting of the messages misrepresents the new law or the purpose of Agunechemba and Operation Udo Ga-Achi, and when in doubt of any information, should consult the government, especially the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor (SPAD) on Community Security.
This, according to the Commissioner, should be treated with the seriousness it merits to prevent the confusion that is currently being caused by false information propagated by some town criers.
It will be recalled that the recently launched security initiatives of Governor Soludo is already being applauded nationwide for its effective implementation which some mischief makers are trying to undermine with fake news.