Kidnap Cases Rise In Enugu, Ohaneze Reacts

The youth arm of apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo known as Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has expressed anger over the sudden rise of kidnap cases in Enugu State.

It had been gathered that along the Enugu-Ugwuogo-Opi Nsukka Road, several travellers were abducted. On Thursday alone, according to a road user, there were three separate attacks by hoodlums where commuters were kidnapped. The first attack occurred by 12 pm, the second attack by 2 pm followed by another by 5 pm.

The same had happened on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday inspite of the military and police checkpoints present along that road. 

Hon Harrison Ogara who is a member of the Enugu State House of Assembly also confirmed that his staff members narrowly escaped being kidnapped along the same road.

“Breaking: My staff just missed being kidnapped at Opi Agu by the skin of the teeth. God is faithful,” the lawmaker wrote

In a statement on Saturday, the National President of the youth group, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike described the development as unacceptable.

He expressed amazement at how criminals have developed so much audacity to the point of abducting travellers on a road that has both the presence of the millitary and the police with over 10 checkpoints.

"We have been inundated with reports concerning the daily abduction of commuters along the Ugwuogo-Nsukka Road". He said

“This is the same scenario that played out last year before the immediate past administration, in conjunction with security agencies, deployed both the military and the police.

“It is then strange that hoodlums would have  audacity to launch such attacks on a daily basis despite the number of checkpoints on the road.

“The criminality along the Ugwuogo-Nsukka Road, Four Corner-Udi Road, and other parts of the State must end.

“It is inconceivable that unknown gunmen and hoodlums will enter the city centre and operate unchallenged for over 20 minutes. This is why we are warning that any plan to sabotage the administration of Governor Peter Mbah will be resisted by the Igbo youths.

“We urge all the residents to give their maximum support to the Governor Peter Mbah administration as it poised to take Enugu to a higher pedestal.”

“We demand a discreet investigation of all the security personnel manning the checkpoints. They should be totally overhauled.

“We consider this as an attempt by some persons to discredit the new administration of Barr Peter Mbah, the executive Governor of Enugu State. But their plot is dead on arrival.”