CP promises commitment to realising Otti’s dream of a secured Abia

… Visits schools occupied by kidnappers

From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

Abia State Commissioner of Police, Kenechukwu Onwuemelie, has assured Abians that security agencies in the state would put in their best to ensure that the vision of Governor Alex Otti for a safe and secure Abia State was realised.

Onwuemelie gave the assurance when he visited Lekwesi community in Umunneochi local government area of the state where kidnappers had taken over their primary and secondary schools.

“We assure the people of Abia State that we would put in our best to make sure that the vision of the Governor for a safe and secure Abia State is accomplished,” the CP said, as he

 commended Governor Otti for the success so far recorded in curbing the spate of insecurity that had enveloped the state prior to the Governor’s assumption of office on May 29, 2023.

According to the CP, the institution of good governance by Governor Otti’s administration has helped security agencies in the state to rise up to the occasion in combating crime in the state.

He said the schools visited were dilapidated, adding that reconstruction of the schools would make it difficult for criminals to use them as dens.

CP Onwuemelie further said that the area was vast, adding that the culverts seen in the bushy areas could be used to hide victims.

“Because, if you are not aware that those culverts are there and you are passing by, you just pass on top. There is a possibility that any structure that provides cover can be used to hide kidnapped victims, including the culverts but we must also tell you that in the past seven months, the challenge of kidnapping has been tackled very well in Abia State.

The Commissioner of Police who spoke at the weekend when he led a team of Operation Crush to the two schools taken over by kidnappers in Lekwesi community, in company of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Commander MacDonald Uba (Rtd.), noted that there was a connection between good governance and security.

“There is a connection between good governance and security. We can tell you that from what we have experienced in the past seven months, good governance has come back to Abia.

“In addition to that, you can see collaboration among security forces, the military, Police and all other security agencies are working hand-in-glove with the support of this government.”

Also Speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Commander Macdonald Uba, said the kidnappers took the advantage of roads that were not done around the schools in that area by successive administrations in the State to take over the schools as their den. He said that Abia State Government would do the road and reactivate the schools so that the kidnappers would have to leave the environment. He said since the people of the community have seen what Governor Otti was doing in that area in terms of security, they should continue to give timely information to government and security operatives.

Contributing, the Mayor of Umunneochi Local Government Area, Mr. Ndubuisi Ike, said kidnapping in the area has significantly reduced, compared to what it was before the emergence of Governor Alex Otti. He said they want to leverage on technology to ensure that the incidences of kidnapping in the area were eradicated. 

Mr. Ike, who disclosed that the kidnappers vandalised the schools and wanted to dominate the  area a few years ago, commended Governor Otti, the security agencies for what they have done so far to keep Umunneochi safe from kidnappers, who, he said, were from outside of Abia and Southeast. 

“The Governor has been very supportive. There is nothing we need for security that he has not provided. It is a war we are steadily winning; it is a war we are determined to win. And soon, we are hopeful that with the help of the CP, the Governor, the security architecture in the State, we will return Umunneochi to normalcy,” the Mayor said.

Some members of the community, including Stephen Udeogu, Mr. Njoku Augustine and Chief Anthony Akuma, said they used to enjoy good life in the community before the advent of kidnapping. They disclosed that upon the invasion of Lekwesi Secondary School by kidnappers, the students were moved to Lekwesi Primary School, where the kidnappers equally chased the pupils away and occupied the schools and started using them as dens for their nefarious activities.

They expressed joy with the efforts of Governor Alex Otti to arrest the menace and assured that Umunneochi local government would cooperate with the state government and security operatives to ensure total security of their communities.