…narrates his wife’s harrowing experience
From Maurice Okafor, Enugu.
The Traditional Prime Minister of Ahani-Achi autonomous community, Hon.John Ifeanyichukwu Okefi, who is also the councillor of Oji River Urban (ward IV), has pleaded with the state government to come to the rescue of his community and Oji River Urban from the menace of miscreants who have continued to attack and kidnap the citizens and other Nigerians doing their legitimate businness in the area.
Hon. Okefi lamented that the residents of Oji River Urban and Ahani Achi community now live in fears every movement, such as going to farms over fear of attacks or being kidnapped by alleged Fulani herdsmen.
The ‘Onowu’Ahani-Achi-cum councillor said the efforts of Oji River local government authorities have not yielded the desired results and that is why he is beckoning on the state government to beam more searchlight in Oji -Urban and by extension to Ahani-Achi autonomous community to control the menace.
He stated, “Our people are living in fear. Most of the rural dwellers fear going to their farms. The residents of Oji Urban curtail their hours of movement and many close shops early. Night life in Oji Urban has drastically closed down. Commutters fears travelling from Oji Urban to Achi after 7pm to avoid being attacked by hoodlums.”
Hon. Okefi mentioned recent incidents of the attacks and kidnaps to include the kidnap of one Mr Nwankwo Philip Chukwudi in his poultry farmat Galaxy axis of Oji Urban on Wednesday, October 16, the kidnap of his wife, Mrs Tina Amaka Okefi, on September 27, who was eventually rescued on September 30, having spent three days in kidnappers den.
According to Hon. Okefi, his wife was trailled by the kidnappers from Oji Urban as she drove home and was halted at gun point at the gate of his village home at Ahani-Achi autonomous community, around 7.45pm.
He said his wife underwent a harrowing experience as the kidnappers compelled her to trek with them through a narrow path from his village into the thick bush of Oji River forest reserves.
Hon. Okefi further mentioned the attack of one Mr Ekwutosi Onyenede, a farmer who managed to escape with matchet cuts as he was attacked by alleged Fulani herdsmen in his farm at Okpuno Ahani-Achi community,on Monday, October 14.
Prior to the attack on Mr Onyenede, Hon. Okefi lamented that three youths of the community were kidnapped in the farm by alleged Fulani herdsmen, but by the special grace of God, their kidnappers set them free after collecting their phones and exchanging their worn out foot wears with those of the youths.
Hon. Okefi recalled the ugly incidents of kidnap of three persons within the premises of Enugu State College of Health Technology,Oji River on August 14,the kidnap of the prophetess of ‘Alaoma Chapel’at Mile 3,along Oji Urban to Achi road,later in the evening of same date (August 14).
He lamented that all those incidents of kidnaps and atttacks were carried out unchallenged, which prompted his call on the state government to fortify security arrangement in the area.
Hon. Okefi said that his findings revealed that the kidnappers easily takes their escape route with their victims through the Oji River Forestry Reserves and called on both the federal and state governments to establish fllourishing investments in the area,However with an agreement with his autonomous community,Ahani Achi as the host community, who are the ancestral and bonafide owners of Oji River Forest Reserves, leased out to the defunct Nigeria Coal Coperation(NCC).
It will be recalled that the current leadership of Ahani-Achi Development Union(ADU), led by Hon. Kingsley Ezeh, made similar request when the Enugu state government delegation on tour of forest reserves in Enugu state led by Mr Gabriel Okafor, visited Oji River local government area.
Hon. Ezeh pleaded with both the federal government, the state and representatives of Enugu West senatorial zone to establish or attract investments that will be cited in the Oji River forest reserves, as a measure of curtailing rate of insecurity along Oji Urban to Ahani-Achi road, by extension other adjoining communities in Achi, Inyi, Akpugoeze, Awlaw,etc, within Oji River local government area.
Mr Gabriel Okafor who led the delegation assured they will table their findings and recommendations to the state government.
The newly sworned-in local government administration of Oji River local government area led by Hon. Greg Anyaegbudike, promised curtailing the problem of insecurity in the entire Oji River local government as one of the priority project of his administration, in his manifesto.
