Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has revealed a disturbing development involving some youths from the state, disclosing that 23 Anambra indigenes are currently facing the death penalty in Indonesia for drug trafficking-related crimes. He made this known while addressing a group of political defectors who recently joined the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking during the event held on Wednesday, Soludo lamented the growing number of young Nigerians, particularly from Anambra, who are being misled into criminal activities abroad, especially drug trafficking. According to the Governor, many of these youths fall prey to misguided beliefs and the deceitful promises of unscrupulous traditionalists who claim to possess mystical powers capable of shielding them from security detection.
He said, “As I speak to you, in Indonesia alone, 23 of our brothers from Anambra are on death row for offences connected to drugs. These are young men who allowed themselves to be deceived by falsehoods sold to them in the name of traditional protection.”
The Governor blamed a network of self-acclaimed native doctors in the state, accusing them of encouraging impressionable young people to engage in dangerous ventures with the promise of spiritual invincibility. He explained that some of these traditional practitioners claim they can prepare charms that would render airport scanners ineffective, misleading the youths into thinking they can smuggle illegal substances without getting caught.
“These native doctors are part of the problem. They lie to these boys that they can prepare charms so potent that when they carry drugs, airport security systems will not detect them. Unfortunately, many believed them, and today, our young people are paying the ultimate price in foreign lands,” Soludo stated.
The Governor used the opportunity to advise youths in the state to be cautious and not fall victim to criminal temptations, especially those that promise quick wealth. He also emphasized the need for community leaders, religious institutions, and families to step up their efforts in guiding young people toward legitimate pursuits.
Soludo’s remarks come amid renewed efforts by his administration to revive public morality and reorient the youth in Anambra towards productive and lawful engagements. He expressed hope that political participation, such as the defection of the former Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’s loyalists to APGA, would translate into stronger grassroots mobilisation and contribute to more meaningful development across the state.
