From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
The lawmaker, who initially represented Aninri/Awgu/Oji River federal constituency in the tenth House of Representatives, Hon. Chijioke Stanislaus Okereke, has condemned the recent kidnap incidents in Oji River semi- Urban town of Enugu state, in which some students of Enugu State College of Health Technology, Oji River were among the victims.
It was gathered authoritatively that yet-to-be identified gunmen ravaged the once serene and peaceful semi-urban town of Oji River in Enugu state on Wednesday, August 14 evening, where they kidnapped three persons within the premises of Enugu State College of Health Technology, spared a student mother because her baby cried severely and gave matchet cuts to a young man while he was escaping from them.
The kidnappers went further to kidnap the priest of ‘Alaoma Chapel, a Christian ministry located at Mile 3, Oji River, Prophetess Goodness Chika.
An eyewitness who did not want to be mentioned in print, disclosed that the kidnappers laid ambush for Prophetess Goodness Chika beside the gate of her church and as she was about to drive home around 9pm, they gripped her after firing a shot.
The eyewitness said that the kidnappers would have gripped more of the church members who attended the Wednesday evening prayer but the tear gas fired by security operatives, enhanced the escape of the worshippers while the kidnappers hurriedly whisked Prophetess Chika into their car and drove away.
In his press statement made available to The AUTHORITY newspaper, Hon.Okereke described the incidents as heinous and most unfortunate on students of health technology, Oji River.
He called for swift actions from the law enforcement agencies to curtail the ugly the trend.
He stated : “It is with deep concern and a heavy heart that I, Hon. Engr. Chijioke Stanislaus Okereke – CSO*, strongly condemns the heinous attack and abduction of students at the School of Health Technology, Oji-River, Enugu State, by gunmen.
“This brazen trauma and assault on innocent people who are striving to build a better future for themselves and our nation is an affront and a grave violation of their fundamental rights which must never be allowed to fester in our communities and region.”
The former Federal Lawmaker called on both the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Enugu State Government to act swiftly and decisively to ensure the immediate rescue of the abducted students.
” It is imperative that all available resources are deployed to bring these young Nigerians back to their families unharmed. The safety and security of our citizens, especially those in semi-urban and rural areas, must be a top priority for the State Government while she sustains the efforts in securing the city”.
Hon. Okereke recalled the sad incidents of kidnap and related crimes menace in Aninri/Awgu/Oji River Federal Constituency and called for stiff measures from the government and security agencies to halt heightening insecurity across ‘Greater Awgu’ communities.
His words,”In retrospect, this tragic incident in Oji-River is not isolated. I recall with sadness the u recent times at Agbada Nenwe, Aninri local government area where scores of people died, Ihe in Awgu local government area, where a priest was killed, Old Eke-Egbo Achi, where two brothers were murdered and Inyi*l Towns in Oji-River where a police station was razed”.
He lamented that the above incidents in Greater Awgu have left communities in fear and uncertainty.
“These recurring acts of violence demand urgent and comprehensive action from the government and our security agencies. The government must not only work to resolve these incidents but also implement measures that will prevent future occurrences.
“More importantly, the presence of the Police College Oji-River, Divis Headquarters Oji-River, and Oji-River Area Command should serve as critical assets for attaining sustainable security infrastructure the Greater Awgu Region mainstay and our people must be able to live, work, play, and study without the constant fear of attacks as it is now*.
He stressed that protection of lives and properties should be the foremost duty of any government, advising that the responsibility is even more critical in our semi-urban and rural communities, where citizens are often the most vulnerable.
The former federal lawmaker advocated that it is high time to properly equip and engage technology in fighting crimes in the hinterlands.
He called on communities to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies to ensure that peace and security are restored in their communities.
