By George Mgbeleke
The youth wing of apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has expressed outrage over the sudden resurgence of kidnapping in Enugu State.
Between Monday and Friday, (yesterday) several travellers have been abducted along the Enugu-Ugwuogo-Opi Nsukka Road.
A road user confirmed that the hoodlums attacked commuters three separate times on Thursday. While the first attack occurred by 12 pm, the second attack occurred by 2 pm. Another group of commuters were kidnapped by 5 pm.
Earlier on Monday, Tuesday and on Wednesday, several commuters were also abducted despite several military and police checkpoints along the road.
It has also been reported that the criminals are also taking hostages of travellers along the 4-Corner-Udi Road.
In a statement made available to journalists on Saturday, the National President of the youth group, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike said the development was unacceptable.
Okwu wondered how criminals became so daring to the point of abducting travellers in a road where over 10 checkpoints were stationed.
He said, “We have been inundated with reports concerning the daily abduction of commuters along the Ugwuogo-Nsukka Road. 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 the audacity to launch such attacks on a daily basis despite the number of checkpoints on the road.
“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 they failed on arrival.”
Okwu called on the security chiefs in the State to rise up to their duty of protecting the lives and property of the citizens, stressing that, “they should not give citizens the feeling that these bandits are now more powerful than state forces.
“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.”
