Anambra State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Chikodili Anara, has denied allegation levelled against him by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) that he is using operatives of Anambra Vigilante Service to cause insecurity in the state.
IPOB had, through a statement signed by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, levelled numerous allegations against Anara. But briefing journalists in Awka, the commissioner revealed that IPOB and Powerful were on a blackmail mission after several attempts to extort money from him.
The commissioner also named two of his kinsmen (names withheld) as those sponsoring Powerful against him after he wrote a petition against them over a murder charge, for which they were arrested and detained before they allegedly bribed their way out and fled the country.
The commissioner said: “In 2022, Emma Powerful called me and told me he had a story against me. He demanded that I paid him money to drop the publication. He later called again and told me the same story, which I ignored.
“He has been out to blackmail me, and has been calling me since then. I have told him that I will never pay him.
“Today, his friends and two of his brothers, who are involved in a murder case here in Isuaniocha, Awka North Council, are sponsoring him to write against me.
“I am not surprised about the write-up. The truth is that Powerful is doing a paid job. I have severally invited him if he is genuine; if he thinks he can help solve the problem of insecurity we are facing in the state, to come for a meeting.
“I need to inform Powerful that the Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG) has existed for many years before I came into office, and was not created because of IPOB, which is a new and recent creation.”
