Gov Ikpeazu restates commitment to stamp out kidnapping

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has restated the resolve of his administration to stamp out rising spate of kidnapping in Umunneochi Local Government Area of the state where Fulani bandits stage daily kidnapping of local people for ransom.

The governor, who was in Isuochi to commiserate with the community over incessant kidnapping by Fulani gunmen and associated harassment by soldiers accused of complicity in the crime, promised to liaise with leaders and stakeholders of Umunneochi LGA with a view to putting an end to kidnapping and other social vices that have become the order of the day in the area.

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Onyebuchi Ememanka, stated that the community leaders and youths thanked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for coming to their rescue as their sons and daughters no longer visit home due to prevailing insecurity in the area.

He added that Governor Ikpeazu received the community’s demand for immediate dismantling of various military check points in the area.

The governor had earlier made the vow beef up security in the area when he condemned the kidnap of the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr SKC Uche, who visited Isuochi, the headquarters of the local government area.

 The prelate along with the Methodist Bishop of Owerri, Imo State, Rt Rev Dennis Okechukwu Michael; and the prelate’s chaplain were abducted by the gunmen while on a church function in the area.

After diligently profiling the victims, the kidnappers demanded and extorted N100 million from the church before they released the clerics.

After the ordeal, the prelate has related his experience to the church, saying the kidnappers were a syndicate of Fulani and Nigerian Army gunmen who, according to him, have cordoned off the Ibi River link road between Ihube in Imo state and Isuochi in Abia State for hosting kidnapped victims until ransom is paid.

He said his kidnap and harassment took place right under the watch of the Army personnel that operate a military check point in the area. He also said there were decomposing bodies of victims suspected to be local people.

The Oracle Today reports that the youths of Umunneochi local government area had conducted a peaceful protest, demanding immediate dismantling of the military checkpoint and relocation of the cattle market from the area.

Police Rapid Response Squad in Abia State has in a video that has gone viral testified that the kidnappers operate from the nearby Lokpanta cattle market, where, according to a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) who addressed the protesting youths, the ransom money is laundered for the kidnappers.

The men of the Army have since after the accusation been harassing the villagers to prevent them from further protests.

Sir Ememanka said Governor Ikpeazu held a meeting with the people at the Palace of Eze Godson Ezekwesiri at Umuelem Isuochi, and declared his pains that Abia people now feel insecure.

The governor said that the issue of insecurity in Umunneochi and its neighbouring communities has become a matter of great concern to the government of the state.

The Governor noted that many steps had been taken in the past, adding that government will no longer treat the matter with kids glove, adding that the recent kidnapping of the Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria would mark the end of kidnappings around that area.

He decried the worsening state of insecurity across the country and called for concerted efforts to deal with the situation.

Governor Ikpeazu therefore, directed stakeholders of Umunneochi to articulate various flashpoints in the area for immediate action, restating that the ban on open grazing is still in full force and promised to do all it takes to put an end to the menace.

Speaking earlier, the Methodist Archbishop of Okigwe Archdiocese, The Most Rev. Biereonwu Onuagha who regretted that Umunneochi has been turned into a money making center for kidnappers and other criminals called for the reopening of the Ihube-Lomara road, noting that the closure of the road turned it into a known flashpoint for criminals.

Archbishop Onuagha also called for the immediate relocation of the Lokpanta Cattle Market which he described as a security threat to them and thanked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his role in the timely release of The Methodist Prelate recently kidnapped along Leru-Umunneochi road.

Also in their speeches, a former chairman of the old Isuikwuato LGA, Chief Uzo Egbo and the Chairman of the Umunneochi Traditional Rulers Council who is also the Traditional Ruler of Aro Ikpa Autonomous Community, Eze Ernest Onwuka noted that Umunneochi as a Local Government shares borders with all the south East states makes the area vulnerable to all sorts of crimes as over 12 incidences of kidnapping have been recorded along the Leru-Lomara-Nneato road in within a short period of time.

They called for the dismantling of various military check points in the area and thanked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for coming to their rescue as their sons and daughters no longer visit home due to prevailing insecurity in the area.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu had on arrival visited the scene where the kidnapping of the Methodist Prelate His Eminece Samuel Kanu Uche and his team took place.

Key community stakeholders in the meeting include the Member representing Umunneochi State constituency Hon. Okey Igwe.

Others are the Commissioner for Information, Dr Eze Chikamnayo; Chief Ndidi Okereke; the Executive Chairman of Umunneochi LGA, Chief Ifeanyi Madu; traditional rulers; top religious leaders; and other stakeholders in the area.