Anambra Youths Join Police in Symbolic Peace Walk to Reject Violent Crime
By Onwe Wisdom|Pan Afric Reporters|Anambra State, Nigeria June 12, 2025
In a powerful display of unity against crime, and solidarity for peace, hundreds of young people across Anambra State turned out for a symbolic Walk for Peace, aligning with CP Okioye Orutugu fwc MNIPS PhD led state police command to denounce kidnapping, cult violence, and armed banditry that have gripped the state. The event formed part of the collective efforts towards a renewed push for community‑led safety.
Organized by the Anambra State Police Command under the framework of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), the walk covered key commercial hubs in Nnewi, including the Area Command, Nkwo Triangle, Nwafor Orizu Roundabout, First Bank Junction and extended to Nnobi Junction, amplifying visibility and community engagement .
The youths of Anambra came out in their numbers in a symbolic walk for peace, a collective stance against violent crime. This mass turnout was more than a show of solidarity with the Nigeria Police and other security agencies, it was a bold statement to condemn all forms of criminality. Together, they echoed a clear message: Enough is enough. Criminals can no longer be allowed to terrorize Anambra State and the South‑East region. The time has come for unity, vigilance, and community‑driven action for a safer Anambra.
According to SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the police public relations officer, the exercise aimed to highlight the importance of cooperation between law enforcement and citizens, build trust, improve intelligence sharing, and sensitize communities about the devastating social and economic toll of violent crimes .
Police authorities say the walk is one among a suite of community outreach efforts to consolidate these gains of security operations. In April 2025 officials announced arrests of suspected kidnappers in Oba and a raid on a weapons cache in Omasi, Ayamelum, highlighting the effectiveness of intelligence‑led operations .
The walk for Peace thus represents more than symbolism; it reflects a deliberate shift toward citizen‑driven peacebuilding. As people walked alongside police and community leaders, the underlying message was loud and clear: peace must be upheld and not simply enforced.
By centering youth voices in public safety initiatives, the event signals a critical step toward mindset change in communities long plagued by fear and mistrust. It also reinforces call for ward‑level security committees, community surveillance partnerships, and civilian oversight mechanisms to bring sustained reform to policing and governance frameworks in the state .
The success of this symbolic march rests not just on numbers, but on follow‑through. Sustained cooperation among youth, traditional leaders, civil society, and law enforcement is essential. Anambra’s leadership must now accelerate reforms in community policing, intelligence sharing, and accountability structures to sustain peace.
As the walk made plain, security is everyone’s business, not merely the task of police or government. Whether through formal institutions or grassroots vigilance, residents of Anambra are taking a stand: the era of indifference is over, and our collective security begins with us.
