AWKA — The Anambra State Government has arraigned eight individuals before a High Court in Awka on charges of violating the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, 2025. The arraignment, which took place on Friday, June 5, 2026, marks a significant escalation in Governor Charles Soludo’s ongoing crackdown on religious and spiritual figures accused of exploiting the public and facilitating criminal activities.

The Defendants

The eight individuals brought before the court were identified as:

      •  Peter Chukwu

      •  Chinedu Egwuonwu

      •  Bishop Emeka Nwankpa

      •  Ebele Nnachukwu

      •  Ekeleme Chris Ugochukwu

      •  Ndubisi Nnachukwu

      •  Miracle Iruoma

      •  Chukwukadibia Ogwuama

The defendants were escorted to the court by operatives of the Agunechemba vigilante group, led by Ken Emeakayi, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security. The state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke (SAN), is personally leading the prosecution.

Context of the Crackdown

The government’s action is part of a broader mission to sanitize the state's religious and traditional sectors.Governor Soludo’s administration has accused certain "fake pastors," native doctors, and spiritualists of using religion as a front to deceive desperate citizens, promote "easy wealth" narratives, and provide spiritual protection or charms to armed robbers, kidnappers, and other criminal elements.

This initiative is rooted in the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, 2025, which was signed into law by Governor Soludo in January 2025. The legislation was designed to combat rising insecurity by:

Establishing the Agunechemba vigilante structure to support federal security agencies.

Banning the creation of charms for criminal purposes.

Prohibiting public sacrifices and other practices deemed harmful or fraudulent.

Outlawing specific supernatural-based accumulation practices, such as Oke-Ite and Ezenwanyi.

Violations of the law carry severe penalties, including up to six years imprisonment and fines of up to N20 million.

The state has previously seen high-profile convictions under this security mandate, most notably the sentencing of a popular native doctor, Chukwudozie Nwangwu (known as ‘Akwa Okuko Tiwara Aki’), who received a 12-year prison sentence for his involvement in rituals, robbery conspiracies, and aiding criminal syndicates. Another native doctor, Johnpaul Ezenagu, currently remains in custody facing similar charges.