# As part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, Commandant Maku Olatunde, the NSCDC Anambra State Commandant, on Sunday, September 27, 2026, joined Governor Chukwuma Soludo and other government leaders at St. Faith Cathedral, Awka, for a special service to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
The service, presided over by the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger and Anglican Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Grace, the Most Revd Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim, provided an opportunity for the people of Anambra to come together as one to pray for Nigeria.
Soludo, who was the Special Guest of Honour in his remarks, called on everyone to work together to save the country. He also urged Nigerians to keep praying for their leaders and for the nation, especially for Anambra State.
Speaking after the service, Commandant Maku, represented by Assistant Commandant of Corps Uche Okafor, called on Nigerians to continue to embrace peace, unity and tolerance, and to remain committed to the progress and stability of the country.
# The Anambra State Police Command has recovered a six-round English-made pistol during a stop-and-search operation by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Nnewi Sector, and Police Mobile Force (PMF) 54.
The recovery was made on the evening of Saturday, 26th September 2026, when the joint team, while conducting visibility patrol within the Nnewi North metropolis, stopped two male persons travelling on a Tiger 150 motorcycle without a registration number.
The men, identified as Ekwulugo Chiemierie Joseph, aged 33 years, and Enyiobi Geoffrey Somtochukwu, aged 29 years, were subjected to a search during which the firearm was recovered.
According to a press statement from SP. Tochukwu Ikenga, Police Public Relations Officer, Anambra State Command, they were immediately taken into custody and are currently assisting the Police with the ongoing investigation.
The Command is working to establish how the suspects came to be in possession of the firearm, where it was obtained from and what it was intended to be used for. Investigators are also looking into other circumstances surrounding the recovery and whether there are any further links that may assist the investigation.
The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, psc, mnips, said the recovery demonstrates the importance of maintaining police visibility and conducting well-coordinated stop-and-search operations as part of the Command’s intelligence-led and community-based policing strategy.
According to the Commissioner, such operations are particularly important in identifying and disrupting the movement of firearms and other dangerous weapons that could be used to facilitate violent crimes.
He assured residents of Nnewi and Ndi Anambra that the Command would continue to sustain proactive patrols, intelligence-led operations and strategic stop-and-search activities across the State.
The Commissioner also called on members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly provide the Police with credible information concerning suspicious persons, movements or activities within their communities.
# Anambra State Government has announced the commencement of registration for the 2026 Christian Pilgrimage to the Holy Land of Israel and Jordan.
The announcement was contained in a public notice issued by the Anambra State Christian Pilgrim Welfare Board, Office of the Deputy Governor.
According to the notice, intending pilgrims are invited to obtain registration forms and participate in the pilgrimage, described as a sacred journey of faith, prayer and spiritual renewal.
The Board stated that applicants for the pilgrimage must be 30 years and above, with the registration form available at the cost of 10,000 naira.
It further directed applicants to make payments through any commercial bank using the Anambra State Revenue Code 11001002/12060181, alongside their Anambra State Identification Number.
Applicants are required to present evidence of payment at the Anambra State Christian Pilgrims Office to complete the necessary registration and documentations.Â
The Christian Pilgrim Office said the registration process is currently ongoing, urging interested persons who meet the requirements to take advantage of the opportunity.
# His Royal Majesty Barrister Nzekwesiri John Nweke has Showered praises on Governor Chukwuma Soludo as Nsugbe Celebrates their New yam festival.
He, emphasized that Governor Soludo loves Nsugbe people and has done a lot for them by building internal roads within the School premises of the College of Education covering almost all the premises.
He maintained that the Administration of Soludo erected a magnificent Students’ Center which is strategically located in the center of the School.
# Anambra Commissioner of Police, CP Nnanna Oji Ama held a strategic security meeting with the Command’s senior management team, Area Commanders and Tactical Commanders to undertake a comprehensive review of the security situation across Anambra State and assess the operational readiness of the Command.
The meeting reviewed emerging security threats, intelligence collection and utilisation, visibility patrols, surveillance, rapid response, crime prevention, community-based policing and inter-agency collaboration.
The CP directed all Area and Tactical Commanders to immediately strengthen intelligence-led policing within their areas of responsibility, improve the collection, analysis and timely utilisation of actionable intelligence, sustain aggressive but lawful patrols and surveillance, and ensure prompt response to distress calls and emerging security situations.
He further directed commanders to maintain effective command presence and supervision, regularly evaluate the security situation within their jurisdictions and ensure that personnel remain fully deployed and responsive to the security needs of the people.
The Commissioner warned that there will be no tolerance for extortion, corruption, abuse of human rights, unlawful detention, harassment of members of the public or any other conduct capable of undermining the credibility of the Police and eroding public confidence. Area and Tactical Commanders were consequently charged to enforce discipline and accountability and to take responsibility for the conduct and performance of personnel under their command.
CP Nnanna also directed commanders to deepen intelligence-driven engagement with traditional rulers, town unions, youth organisations, civil society groups, religious bodies, community leaders and other critical stakeholders, stressing that effective policing depends substantially on public trust, timely information and strong community partnerships.
The Commissioner emphasised that security remains a collective responsibility, and called for stronger cooperation among the Police, other security agencies, government institutions, community structures and the people of Anambra State.
He assured residents that the Command would continue to strengthen its operational capacity, improve police visibility and response, and deploy available resources strategically to protect lives and property, maintain public order and prevent criminal and violent activities across the State.
CP Nnanna reiterated the Command’s commitment to professional, people-centred, intelligence-led and community-based policing, assuring that preparations for the 2027 general elections will be sustained through continuous training, strategic coordination, intelligence development, operational readiness and close collaboration with all relevant stakeholders.
# The Anambra State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, has inspected ongoing and completed projects at Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe.
The inspection was aimed at assessing the level of development and appreciating ongoing infrastructure projects within the College.
Prof. Nweke said the visit was to witness the transformation taking place at the institution under the administration of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo.
He highlighted the construction of internal roads and the completed Students’ Centre, strategically located within the College premises, as some of the projects executed to improve the institution.
The Commissioner noted that construction and renovation of other buildings were still ongoing, with modern facilities and equipment being provided to enhance teaching, learning and other activities.
He said the Governor was committed to transforming the College from its former state and giving it infrastructure and facilities comparable to university standards.
# The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Nnanna Oji Ama has intensified the Command’s preparations for the 2027 general elections and finalised discussions with Civil Society Organisations on organising a refresher course for Police personnel and other security agencies.
The proposed course is designed to strengthen the professional capacity, operational preparedness and understanding of security personnel on their roles and responsibilities before, during and after electoral activities.
The training will focus on professionalism, human rights, democratic policing, conflict prevention and management, crowd control, communication, community engagement, election security and the lawful, impartial and professional discharge of security responsibilities.
The Commissioner of Police stated that effective election security requires personnel who are not only operationally prepared but also properly grounded in the principles of professionalism, neutrality, respect for fundamental rights and accountability. He therefore stressed the need for continuous training and professional development as the Command begins early preparations for the 2027 elections.
The initiative forms part of the Command’s broader strategy to strengthen institutional preparedness, prevent election-related violence and ensure a safe and secure environment in which citizens can exercise their civic responsibilities without fear or intimidation.
# The Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA) has extended its Healthy Workplace Compliance Initiative to Nwoke Udi Palmwine Bar in Awka, providing workers with free HIV counselling and testing as well as other integrated preventive health services.
The outreach featured HIV testing and counselling, hepatitis B and C screening, tuberculosis and malaria screening, health education, preventive counselling and referral services.
Speaking during the exercise, the Executive Director/Project Manager of ANSACA, Dr. Nkem Okeke, said taking preventive healthcare directly to workplaces would help remove barriers to accessing essential services, while encouraging early detection and timely referral.
The health education session focused on HIV prevention, abstinence, safer sexual practices and the correct and consistent use of male and female condoms.
Workers were encouraged to know their HIV status, with those who tested positive linked to appropriate care and treatment, while those who tested negative received guidance on maintaining their HIV-negative status.
Dr. Okeke explained that the Healthy Workplace Compliance Initiative goes beyond a one-day outreach, as it is designed to encourage organisations to make employee health, HIV awareness, prevention and access to appropriate services part of their workplace culture.
According to him, ANSACA has already extended the initiative to Chiben Leisure Hotel and Naira Rice, with plans to reach water factories, hospitality establishments, industries and other workplaces across Anambra State.
He added that the agency was strengthening inter-agency collaboration to expand the programme, including engagement with the Anambra State Ministry of Environment to complement environmental compliance efforts with workplace health interventions.
Dr. Okeke called on businesses and organisations across the state to embrace the initiative, assuring that ANSACA would continue to take free HIV prevention, testing, health education, screening and referral services closer to workers and communities.
