All you need to know about new Anambra State Homeland and Security Law, 2025

𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝘄, 2025.

Yesterday, during the plenary session, the Anambra State House of Assembly led by the Speaker 𝗥𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗸𝘄𝘂 𝗡𝗸𝗲𝗺 𝗨𝗱𝗲𝘇𝗲,𝗣𝗵.𝗗, passed the Anambra State Homeland Security Bill 2025 into Law.

This law gives legislative strength to the efforts of Mr Governor 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗸𝘄𝘂𝗺𝗮 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗼, 𝗖𝗙𝗥 in the establishment of a 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗙𝗜𝗧 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗚𝗨𝗡𝗘𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗔 in other to restore absolute peace in the State, thereby making Anambra safe from any type of Criminal activity.

This law captures all the necessary things needed for effective implementation. Some clauses I want to highlight includes:

𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 4: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐠𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐚.

1. Prevent and detect crimes
2. Make available relevant information on criminals
3. Take necessary measures to ensure that criminals do not operate in any part of the State
4. Preserve law and order
5. Protect lives and properties
6. Arrest criminals and hand them over to police for investigation
7. Give further assistance to the Police where required in the production of witnesses.

𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 5; 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐠𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐚

1. The Agunechemba shall have powers to arrest and hand over to the police, any person who commits crime
2. Patrol the streets and villages at any time of the day
3. Maintain security barricades in appropriate places
4. Question and handover to the person, any person of questionable character or of suspicious movement
5. Enter and search any compound into which a questionable person runs into while being pursued
6. Form special forces or squad for the purpose of tackling kidnapping, banditry, consumption of illicit drugs, cultism, robbery and any other violent crimes in the State.
   𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 8: 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧;
   (1). There is establishment a supervisory body to be known as the Anambra State Security Supervisory Committee
   (2). The Anambra State Security Supervisory Committee shall consist of,
   (a) The Governor or any other person designated by him, as the Chairman
   (b) The Commissioner in charge of homeland security, if any, as a member
   (c) The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, if any, as a member
   (d) A representative of the Nigeria Police Force as a member
   (e) A representative of Department of State Security Service (DSS) as a member
   (f) A representative of National Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) as a member
   (g) The Chairman of House of Assembly Committee on Security as a member
   (h) The Chairman of State Council of Traditional Rulers or his representative as a member
   (i) A Secretary/Legal Adviser who shall be a State Counsel from Ministry of Justice
   (j) The Mayors of the Local government areas
   (k) Any other member or members as maybe appointed by the Governor.

𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 13: 𝐃𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞.

1. As from the commencement of this law, all president Generals of the town unions recognized by the State Government shall not later than the first week of every month, submit to the Mayor of their respective local government areas and ministry in charge of homeland security or where not existing at the time, any other department or office in charge of security in the State as may be designated by the Governor, a report in any manner as may be prescribed, of;
   (a) All criminal or criminally suspicious activities in their communities or by persons from their communities, for the preceding month

(b) Any apprehension or arrest of offenders or suspects made by the Agunechemba establishment under this law, the Nigeria Police or any other law enforcement agency in their communities for the preceding month

(c) The names, addresses, phone numbers, whereabouts and any other necessary particulars of the persons alleged or suspected to have taken part directly or indirectly in the activities in paragraph (a) of the subsection 1 of this section or apprehended or arrested as in paragraph (b) of subsection 1 of this section.

(d) Any person who appears to them to be new and unknown but resides in the community in the preceding month, with the name, address, phone numbers, and any other necessary particulars of such person

(e) Any location whether in the forest or not, suspected to be occupied or used by kidnappers or bandits either as a dwelling place or for perpetration of crime

(f) Any person who brandishes wealth or engages in lavish or luxurious spending or lifestyle without an ostensible and verified means of livelihood in their communities for the preceding month, with their name, address, phone numbers, and any other necessary particulars of such persons; and

(g) Their assessment of the Security condition in their communities

2. Any President General who fails to make the report as required under subsection 1 of this section shall be guilty of misconduct and shall be liable to have his recognition by the State Government withdrawn.
3. Any President General who parades himself as such after his recognition has been withdrawn by the State Government, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 2 years or a fine of 5million naira or both.

𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 14: 𝐃𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐬, 𝐋𝐨𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬.
(1.a) As from the commencement of this law, any landlord or owner of property shall before before letting out his property, demand and obtain from the proposed tenant, a copy of the valid means of identification of the tenant with his phone number, details of his occupation and where applicable, his place of work and shall submit such means of identification and information to the President General of the town union who shall upon demand, immediately transmit same to the Mayor of the Local Government.

(b) In any community where there exist(s) estate which makes it difficult for the President General of the community to receive the means of identification and information specified in paragraph A of sub-section of this section directly from the landlords, the President General shall direct the leadership of the Estate association to collect such means of identification and information from the landlords and transmit to him.

(2) Any person who lets out his property without obtaining a valid means of identification from the tenant or the information required under subsection 1 of this section, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of one year with an option of fine of five million naira or both.

(3) The proprietor or operator of any hotel, commercial guest house, inn, lodge, motel, short let apartment or other commercial dwelling place by whatever name called, or hostel shall before accommodating any person, demand and obtain from the guest, a copy of the valid means of identification of the guest and shall as prescribed by the State or Local Government, submit to the appropriate authority the means of identification of the guest and any other information required by the State or Local Government.

(4) The proprietor or operator of any hotel, commercial guest house, inn, lodge, motel, short let apartment or other commercial dwelling place by whatever name called, shall as from the commencement of this law, install in such facility, a surveillance camera to record the checking in of guest and or the activities taking place within the premises and surroundings and shall as prescribed by the State or Local Government, submit to the appropriate authority the data recorded by the camera.

(5) Any proprietor or operator of hotel, commercial guest house, inn, lodge, motel, short let apartment, hostel or other commercial dwelling place by whatever name called, who fails to comply with the provisions of sub-sections 3 and 4 of this section, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of six months with a option of fine of one million naira or both

(6) The commissioner in charge of hospitality may withdraw the license or shut down the operations of any hotel, commercial guest house, inn, lodge, motel, short let apartment, hostel or other commercial dwelling place which fails to comply with the provisions of sub-sections 3 and 4 of this section

𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 15: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐧𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐲

1. Any person being the owner of any land whether or not in a forest or of any building or a person in control of any such land or building who allows such land or building to be occupied as a camp or settlement or used for purposes of perpetrating or aiding kidnapping, detention of kidnapped victims, demanding or collection of ransoms in relation to kidnapping or any other crime in furtherance of kidnapping or any form of banditry, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 25 years without an option of fine.
2. Any person not being a member of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Army or other Security agency recognized by the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or the laws of Anambra State, who lives or harbours people on any land in the forest in any part of the State except for purposes related to farming or in furtherance of any lawful business, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 25 years without an option of fine.
3. Any person being the owner of any land in the forest or a person in control of any such land, who allows any person, not being a member of the Police Force, Nigeria Army or other Security agency recognized by the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or the laws of Anambra State to live or camp in such forest except for purposes related to farming or in furtherance of any lawful business, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 25 years without an option of fine.
4. Any person being the owner of any property or a person in control of any such property, who is or becomes aware that such property is used for the commission of any offence and conceals such fact or fails to report same to the police or Agunechemba under this law, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 25 years without an option of fine.
5. Any person or building used for the commission of any offence under this section shall be forfeited to the State Government
6. Nothing in sub section 5 of this section shall preclude the Governor of the State from revoking or acquiring for overriding public purpose, any property in the State, in line with the provisions of the Land use Act.

𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 16: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐬

1. No property in the State shall be used for the manufacture, use or sale of illicit drugs.
2. Any property used for the manufacture, sale or use of illicit drugs in the state shall be forfeited to the state Government.

𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 17: 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥.

In furtherance of the powers granted to the Attorney General of the States pursuant to section 211 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), section 149 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Anambra State 2023 and the section 31 of the Police Act 2020.

1. The files of all cases bothering on or related to kidnapping under investigation by the police shall at the conclusion of investigation, subject to the direction of the Attorney General, be immediately forwarded to the Attorney General for review or advice.
2. Where the investigation is not concluded within 15 days from the date of the arrest or the date the report is made whichever is earlier, the case file shall be duplicated and submitted to the Attorney General immediately upon the expiration of the said period of 15 days for his direction, review or advice.

𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 18: 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬.

1. Any person who under the practice of “𝑶𝒌𝒆𝒊𝒕𝒆” or “𝑬𝒛𝒆 𝑵𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒊” or under any other guise, administers any substance or charm on or for any other person for the purpose of commission of any offence or for the purpose of accumulation of wealth by supernatural means other than by any known lawful means of livelihood or who publicly propagates the accumulation of such wealth other than by any known lawful means of livelihood, commits and offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 6 years with an option of fine of 20 million naira or both.
2. Any person who performs any sacrifice or dumps on any road or thrown into any water body in the state, any charms, substance or items of sacrifice in foregrance of the commission of any offense under subsection 1 of this section, commits and offense and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 6 years with an option of fine of 20 million Naira or both.
3. Any person who misleads the public by purporting to wield any Supernatural powers which he is found not to possess or who obtains any reward from any person in furtherance thereof, commit an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 6 years with an option of fine of 20 million naira or both.
4. For the purpose of ascertaining weather or not a person possesses the natural powers under subsection 3 of this section, any such person suspected of misleading the public under subsection 3 of this section shall at the stage of investigation, be subjected to proof that he possesses such powers.
5. An investigation made by the police in respect of any offence under this section shall be forwarded to the Attorney General of the State for review and advice before the prosecution of any person suspected of having committed the offence.

𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 19: 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞

1. Any person who uses any religious place for the commission or to aid the commission of any crime, commit an offense and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 6 years with an option of fine of 20 million naira or both.
2. Any religious place suspected of being used to commit or aid the commission of any crime may be sealed by the order of the Governor pending the conclusion of investigation.
3. If after the conclusion of investigation, there exists a prime facie case of the commission or aiding the commission of any crime in such place, any person found culpable shall be charged to court.
4. Where a person is charged to court under this section, the property or place involved shall be sealed, except unsealed by the order of the Governor, remain sealed until the determination of the charge or unless otherwise ordered by the court.

𝑪𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 20: 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬.

Any person who performs or requires of any person the performance of any rituals involving human parts, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 25 years without an option of fine.

From these clauses highlighted, you can see that this law encompasses all.

We shall continue to bring you more details of this law.

𝐑𝐭. 𝐇𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐣𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐎𝐤𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐤𝐰𝐮 (𝑶𝒈𝒃𝒖𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒌𝒐𝒆𝒇𝒊), for House of Assembly Committee on Media and Publicity