Community Security: Amb. John Metchie Singlehandedly Built a Military Base to Combat Insecurity in Anambra East & West Local Government Areas
By Raheem Ibrahim
In a move to effectively combat incessant bandit invasion of East and West Local Government Areas of Anambra State, a philanthropist, Amb. Dr. John Metchie, has built a functional and well-equipped military base at the communities’ border to address the menace.
The construction and commissioning of the military base, which was welcomed by the State Governor, Soludo, has achieved what many thought impossible for a private citizen to embark upon singlehandedly.
It has redefined the boundaries of Private-Public-Community Partnership (PPCP) to check and combat the incessant invasion of the two Local Government Areas, where many lives have been lost, people kidnapped, and properties destroyed.
The total construction, completion, and equipping of a functional military base at the formerly volatile border of Anambra East and West Local Government Areas.
For years, the crossing point between these two LGAs served as a flashpoint for kidnappers and criminal elements who exploited the difficult terrain to terrorize residents. Today, that narrative has been permanently silenced.
Without holding an elective office in government or a governmental appointment, Dr. Metchie took it upon himself to fund the project from the foundation up, providing a fortified “Iron Dome” for his people.
The facility, a fortress for peace, which stands as a testament to Metchie’s “people-driven” leadership, is not just a cluster of buildings. According to an independent investigation by the African Writers Centre (AWC), the base is a sophisticated security hub featuring state-of-the-art gadgets and fully completed housing for personnel to ensure a 24/7 military presence.
Other equipment installed in the base includes Central Command & Monitoring: a high-tech CCTV surveillance network that monitors the border in real time; Operational Mobility: the donation of a security patrol vehicle to support the Community Forest Security Service in rapid response to distress calls.
The philanthropist also installed solar infrastructure: integrated solar-powered lighting to eliminate the “cover of darkness” previously used by criminals.
Dr. Metchie, who serves as the Deputy Commander General (Intelligence) of the Nigeria Forest Security Service, pointed to the state’s leadership, noting that the security project was motivated by the “Soludo Model”.
Speaking on what drove him to undertake such a massive capital project alone, he said, “I fell in love with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s Public-Private-Community Partnership (PPCP) model. It taught us that we cannot wait for federal allocations alone to secure our homes. If we want safety, we must build it.”
According to him, the people’s verdict on the first-ever gesture is evident in the palpable impact on the ground. “Where there was once fear, there is now commerce. The solar streetlights have extended trading hours, and the presence of the military base has caused a drastic drop in kidnapping incidents.”
Reacting to the gesture, a local youth leader said, “Most leaders just share rice and consumables. Dr. Metchie gave us something that saves lives. He built a fortress before he even asked for a vote.”
As the President General of Umueri and the Onowu of ASATU, Metchie’s actions have sparked a wider conversation about the 2027 elections.
With a gentleman’s agreement on zoning favoring his community, Umueri, the AWC report concludes that Metchie has built an “unprecedented organic followership” that sees him not just as a candidate, but as a protector of his people in Anambra East and West Federal Constituency.
