Chief Ukachi
By Chukwudi Ebele
The Chief Security Officer of Awada Central Landlords Association, Awada Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra state and Director of Jufuso Security Agency a police registered security Agency, Chief Uchechukwu Jude Ukachi has called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to prevail on the relevant agencies to release his security men, restore all property of the association allegedly carted away and those destroyed by Anambra State Anti- Touts Squad (SASA) and Operation Udo Ga-Achi operatives on March 7, 2025.
He also warned men of the Special Anti-Touting Squad, SASA who usually invade Awada with shuttle bus or tricycle to arrest unsuspecting residents for the purpose of extorting as much as N150,000, N200,000, N300,000 and N400,000 as the case may be, to drop the idea or face dire consequences, warning other criminal elements to steer clear of the area as it is no longer conducive for them to operate and go scot free.
Ukachi said he would prefer a situation where responsible residents of Awada would live in peace without harassment, intimidation, extortion or molestations from criminal elements or misguided governmental agencies.
The CSO stayed this in an exclusive with newsmen shortly after a combined team of SASA operatives (Ndi Akodo) and Agunechemba Security Squad allegedly invaded Awada Central Landlords Association’s office and wrecked havocs.
Chief Jude Ukachi alleged that during the invasion, the SASA/Agunechemba combined team allegedly smashed doors, windows, office tables, drawers, security vehicles, motorcycles, collected two English Pump Action rifles, GSM phones, bullet proof vests, machetes, security gadgets and unspecified amount of money belonging to both the Landlords Association and the vigilance operatives.
He alleged that at the last count, the combined team abducted a lady cashier attached to the landlords association and two vigilante operatives guarding Awada Central for the Landlords Association.
He therefore urged Anambra state government to prevail on the SASA squad to release the two vigilante operatives, Jideofor Ozoemenam and Chinedu Okonkwo whom they abducted during their invasion to the office of Awada Central Landlords, return the arms, cash and other security gadgets they carted away durung their invasion to the office.
Ukachi also urged the state government to prevail on SASA squad to focus on doing their anti touting assignment and forget about coming to Awada with shuttle bus or tricycle to abduct people for the purposes of extorting them.
“I hereby call on the state government to repair all the damages done to both the Landlords office and security vehicles and motorcycles and possibly provide new vehicles for the vigilante operatives to enhance our performance or else I will begin to see the recent invasion as a state sponsored terrorism”.
“The relationship between the Awada Landlords being our employers and we the vigilante operatives being their employees is very cordial. We are doing our job to the best of our knowledge and I believe to their satisfaction and in turn, they are paying us our monthly salaries as and when due”.
“Those violent crimes and pockets of car snatching that propelled Chief Patrick Oyeduba (Obi Ebubediike), President of Awada Central Landlords Association to engage the service of myself, Jude Ukachi of the Jufuso Security Agency are no longer attainable in Awada today, to the glory of God”
“My regret is that the police that actually assigned me into this security job are no longer protecting me. The police engaged me and agreed to be paying me to assist them in combating crime in Anambra state but they are not paying me anymore. Oftentimes, I will do the job, the police will take the glory and eat the proceeds alone”.
“In fact, I am almost doing a thankless job for the police and that was why I decided to quit the job few years ago before Obi Ebubediike came knocking at my door and I said okay let me respond to his request. However, I feel very proud that all the police officers and commissioners in Anambra state in particular which I worked with are today serving or retired Deputy Inspector-General, DIG of Police”.
“It was my valuable contributions and achievements that earned them the promotions. So, I am very proud of that. There was a day a superior police officer, by name Francis called me from Zone 13 Police Command, Ukpo and told me that one DIG was asking after me, asking him whether I am still alive. So, if the police do not recognize my services and assistance to them, they would not have been asking after me”.
“Even when Anambra state became very hot and saturated with criminalities, Amusa Bello, the then state Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP called me and asked what was amiss and I told him straight away that the same people I have been working for are fighting me and exclaimed: Oh! I thought as much. Okay. Jude don’t worry. God will see you through”.
“My final warning to criminals is that they should leave Awada alone. If I see them here, I will return fire for fire against them. I don’t want to see them here in Awada any more. They should carry their AK 47 rifles and relocate to another area outside Awada for me so that Awada residents can enjoy a peaceful atmosphere. Let this place be peaceful so that any responsible person can come into Awada at any time and enjoy himself or herself and go without molestation”.
Once the criminals do that, they won’t see me fighting them outside Awada. If they see me outside Awada territory trying to stage a fight against them, they can throw their bomb at me. Awada should not be a place where people go to sleep as early as possible like fowl because of the menace of criminals. This is an urban area. We can’t run away for them. Rather, they should run away from us because my men are patrolling every nooks and crannies to safeguard the people”.
“I have put in 31 years in this security job and it remains four years for me to retire from active service, just like civil servants who retire after 35 year of service. So, if I work for 35 years, I will go home and rest. I have no apologies to all the criminals I had an encounter with during my service years. If I retire today, I will be proudly walking the streets with my shoulders high”.
“It is only when I go to people to beg for money or assistance that the criminals I had an encounter with will begin to hunt me otherwise, I don’t have any business with them. I don’t have their time. If I see any of them clustering around me, I will deal with them .
I started my security job in 2006 when some hoodlums and miscreants burnt police Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC at Okpoko and snatched a service pistol from the then Police Area Commander for Onitsha, ACP Matthew Uyanna. This development let to the deployment of anti riot policemen to Okpoko in this Anambra state from Abuja by the police high command”.
“During a meeting of police officers at Onitsha Police Area Command Headquarters chaired by the then DIG incharge of Operations, Mike Okiro who later became the IGP, there were plans to demolish so many structures at Okpoko in search of the hoodlums but I raised my hand up and Okiro asked me to say what I wanted to say”.
“I told the police officers that there was no need demolishing property at Okpoko in search of the criminals because Ukachi family members have about 17 houses in Okpoko while these miscreants have no single block. I promised that I can arrest the hoodlums and hand them over to the police. What the hoodlums do then were to kill policemen and take their police uniforms which they use in terrorizing people.
They bought my idea and asked me to arrest them if I could. I arrested all of them and handed them over to the police and that helped to reduce crime wave to the barest minimum, and sanity returned in those years.
“Impressed by my efforts the then Governor Virgy Etiaba invited me to the. Government House in company of the then Commissioner of Police, Haruna John. Etiaba after commending my exploits offered me and my men 15million for a reward of gallantry. As the 15million naira cheque was being written in my name by the Principal Secretary, I received a phone call from an informant that a wanted notorious armed robber was spotted somewhere and I excused myself from Her Excellency telling the PS to hand over my cheque to the CP while I rushed out to arrest the notorious robber.
“After arresting the robber and handing over to the police it was at night. So the next morning I went to police headquarters to collect my cheque with the CP only to be told that he has gone on transfer as Niger State Police Commissioner that was how CP Haruna John who later died in a plane crash as DIG confiscated the 15million naira without me and my boys getting a dime out of it and I left everything to God and continued with my life.
” In 2008/2009 kidnapping and armed robbery re echoed in Anambra State and became the order of the day, to the extent that most of the policemen who went after the hoodlums were Ambushed and killed.
“Governor Peter Obi announced a 2 million naira bounty for any person who could provide a credible information that could lead to the arrest of any kingpin. I assembled my men again and resumed operations which led to the arrest of the kingpins including Emeka Eze and gang who kidnapped GUO Motors.
” In November 1, 2009 We also arrested Chibuzo Ojah, Azuka Otonu, Christopher Onyebuchi, Christian Aniobi, and Onyeka Okpara who broke SARS cells and we handed all of them over to the police.
“On October 19, 2009 We also arrested Chinedu Okafor and Chinonso Uchenna who specialized in bank robbery and robbing traders at Main Market Onitsha.
“October 30, 2009 We also arrested Chidebere Ezeaku alias Shawolina, Emmanuel Chikelu alias Masquerade who kidnapped Emma Bishop Okonkwo at Akpaka forest Onitsha.
“Between October 2009 and November 15, 2009 we arrested Raphael Igwe alias Odogwu Amansea and four others for kidnapping the incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s father. On October 27, 2009 we arrested Abuchi Agukwu Nri, Nonso and two others who kidnapped TONIMAS at Neni.
“On March 2 , 2010 we arrested Ndubisi Ogbuji alias Pharaoh and Sunny Joel who were among the gang that kidnapped Chief GUO Okeke.
“On February 26, 2010 we arrested Monday Monty and five others who kidnapped Akuatuegwu and GBC Murphy.
“On March 10, 2010 we arrested Chinedu Aguleri, Luke Obidiegwu and five others for Kidnapping the proprietor of Roman Hygienic Bread with White men at a hideout,an uncomplicated building behind Otuocha Police Station.
“On March 31, 2010 we arrested Chibuike and three others on foray to kidnap Pastor’s mother at Lilu town. On March 6, 2010 Chief Sebastian Okaformuo of Adazinnukwu who eliminated his enemies by paying murderers bribed me to murder an innocent person and promised us 2million naira to arrest and kill Chukwuneta Nwakozor. After arresting Nwakozor and discovering that he was innocent of the allegations leveled against him by Okaformuo we turned round and arrested Okaformuo and handed over to the police who allegedly collected huge sum of money as bribe from Okaformuo and released him while the innocent Chukwuneta Nwakozor was left to languish in Police Custody,” Ukachi alleged.
“On December 16, 2009 we arrested Uzoka Emma, Jackson Nonso alias Onyeife and three others as armed robbers who fired gunshots at Jude Ukachi himself at UGA junction, Onitsha.
“On October 17,2009 we arrested Emeka Eze at Enotel hotel Asaba, Delta state for kidnapping GUO Okeke at All Saints church premises on August 24, 2009 and collected 50 million naira ransome from GUO.
” On October 19,2009 we arrested Chigozie Udensi, Chukwuma Ude and others for robbing banks at Onitsha and Awka.
” On July 15, 2009 we arrested Sunday Nwachukwu and three others for Kidnapping Chief Michael Nwakalor alias Woowo Nteje .
“Lastly we also arrested Anthony and Ugochukwu who kidnapped Fetus Odimegwu’s wife collecting 100 million naira ransome from the family.
“However, when we arrested Emeka Eze and others who kidnapped GUO Okeke, he took us to a bush at Nando community where his gang buried arms and ammunitions inside a 1000 liter capacity GEEPEE tank under the ground which they were using to terrorize the entire South East. The ammunitions we recovered at Nando bush included 5 AK 47 riffles, 2 GPMG riffles, 1 rocket launcher, 5 Rocket propellers, 3 Rockets, 5830 rounds of AK-47 ammunitions, 124 empty AK-47 magazines, 1125 GPMG ammunitions,” Ukachi claimed.
“After all these recoveries the then CP Philemon Leha invited me to his office and gave me 10 million naira cash which he said he collected from Governor Peter Obi to commend me for a job well done. When I offered Leha some part of the money, he vehemently refused saying that the job I helped the police to do was worth more than 50 million naira adding that if he had his own personal money,he Leha would have added to the 10million naira given to me because I have made the entire police proud. I thanked immensely saying that he is the only honest and decent man in Police uniform I have worked with.
“CP Leha later gave me a Certificate of Gallantry endorsed by him saying if the IG of Police did not reward me as he promised, the certificate and letter of Commendation will speak for me all through my life. Also, the Anambra State Vigilante management team then gave me an honor in the presence of the police and other security agencies.
“I articulated a table of Conquered criminals, with dates of those who were kidnapped and who kidnapped them. It was as a result of our exploits here that made Millionaire Kidnapper Evans to relocate to Edo State. When we decided to track him down to Edo State Evans fled to Lagos.
“Just because Abba Kyari arrested Evans, he was promoted to DCP but I who arrested many kidnappers was not rewarded appropriately. There is nothing for me till today rather they are looking for me to kill, for what?, lamented Ukachi.
“However, in 2011 I left the security job for them and retired to my house because they were seriously after my life. They wanted to kill me at all costs because of the 186 million naira approved for me by the state government. They went to the extent of hiring assassins who attacked me at my Asaba residence. Meanwhile, the security job they claimed to be doing overwhelmed them. Crime and Kidnapping later became the order of the day.
“Last year 2024, the military called me to assist them in combating crime in Anambra State asking me to name my price. I asked them to pay me 300 million naira but they said they would only pay 100 million naira. I refused the offer because I had earlier been invited for the same purpose at Abuja by one Adeboye who offered the same 100 million naira but I refused because I have worked for Anambra State first, second and the third time but instead of rewarding adequately people have been trying to eliminate me. That was why I withdrew my services for the state and rested,” claimed Ukachi.
“Later in 2024 the President of Awada Landlords Association, Obi Ebubedike invited me to come combat crime in Awada Obosi area. I told him that I will not cover my face unlike what is obtainable in AVS where people cover their faces to do security work because I am a Police Registered Vigilante and cannot do agbero work. For me, anyone covering his face to do security work is a criminal and gone were days when you co-opt criminals to fight criminals,” alleged Ukachi.
“Since we resumed operations in Awada what we see here is SASA squad frequenting Awada community with Keke-napep, shuttle bus to make arrests and extort money from residents.
“Sometimes ago, I arrested 12 SASA who came for an illegal extortion business at Awada because to the best of my knowledge SASA was established to hunt those collecting illegal tolls but they have left it and embarked on money extortion of unsuspecting citizens. I called Nwokoye and he warned them to stop coming to Awada for shady arrests or business and since then there was calm in Awada Obosi community.
“However, three days ago being Friday 7th March, 2025 fight broke out between SASA squad and residents of Orsumoghu Street who revolted against them for arresting a nursing mother whose husband was accused as a suspected Drug peddler because they did not see the husband.
“The scuffle between the SASA men and the Orsumoghu Street boys attracted the attention of Orsumoghu Street vigilante operatives and the Awada Landlords Association Secretary told my Commander to go with some of my security men to inquire what caused the fight between SASA and the street boys.
“When my men got there and asked them why they did not bother to inform the unit Vigilante of their mission on arrival which portrayed them as abductors or people on illegal business , SASA men flared up and extended their attack on my men, beating them with their pestle and was about driving away with the security men until one of my Commander took the Hummer bus ignition key which the SASA men came with to arrest the woman and left.
When my men returned to our office, they narrated what they passed through in the hands of the SASA men and handed the Hummer Bus ignition key over to me and when I discovered that it was an ignition key to an official vehicle, I rushed to the scene to return the key but the SASA men had left leaving their vehicle behind”.
“I quickly placed a telephone call across to the Divisional Police Officer at Awada Police Division but his phone was not connecting, then I called the Awada Divisional Crime Officer, DCO III to inform him about the incident. He told me that the SASA men were threatening to come and attack the vigilante units in Awada.
“On hearing that SASA squad said they would come to attack us, in order to avoid bloodshed, I called my men and told them not to return the attack violently if they come. Before, I came back to the office behold, the SASA men with a combine team of Operation Udo Ga-Achi/ Agunechemba, Anambra Vigilante operatives had invaded and unleashed the mayhem, shooting guns sporadically on the air, smashing and destroying everything on sight at the Awada Landlords office housing us.
“Shooting sporadically into the air, they broke into the secretary’s office, financial secretary’s office and the cashier’s office, ransacking the drawers and and took a huge sum of money belonging to the landlords association individually and collectively, they abducted two of our men whose names are Jideofor Ozoemenam and Chinedu Okonkwo and the Awada Landlords Association lady cashier which has been released with the money they collected in her own office. They are still boasting and threatening saying that they would come back for another round of attack,” alleged Ukachi.
