The Anambra State Government has banned operatives of the state-owned security outfit, Agunechemba, from wearing masks while carrying out official duties across the state.
The directive was issued by the Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Community Security, Ken Emeakayi, during a routine meeting with Agunechemba commanders drawn from the 179 communities across the 21 local government areas in Awka.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the office of the security adviser, the ban takes immediate effect and is aimed at preventing criminal elements from exploiting masks to perpetrate violent crimes under the guise of security operations.
Before the directive, operatives of the security outfit were known for covering their faces with masks bearing different inscriptions and designs during field operations.
Agunechemba, a community-based security outfit established in 2025 under the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, was launched with 2,000 personnel and 200 operational vehicles to strengthen grassroots policing and crime-fighting efforts.
Speaking at the meeting, Emeakayi warned that any operative who violates the order, except those on special assignments, would face arrest and disciplinary action.
“Henceforth, Agunechemba operatives must stop wearing masks. Any operative carrying out his duty with a mask, especially within towns in civil cases, is hiding something,” he said.
He said masked operations often create fear among residents and could be exploited by criminal elements impersonating security personnel.
“By operating with masks, security operatives can scare citizens, while criminal elements can also take advantage of it and perpetrate crimes, which could be blamed on the agency and its men,” he added.
“You have nothing to fear. All of you live in various localities, and people already know you as security men,” he said.
Emeakayi also cautioned against indiscriminate checkpoints, warning that such practices must not be used to intimidate or extort residents.
He said checkpoints should only be mounted for genuine security purposes and directed at tracking criminal elements.
“No checkpoint will be mounted permanently on any road or route by personnel of the security group,” he stated, adding that commanders must also support the fight against drug trafficking through intelligence-led operations.
