Lawmaker Calls On Security Agencies To Curb Kidnappings In Abia State

A member of the House of Representatives from Abia State South East Nigeria, Mr. Amobi Ogar has called on the relevant security agencies to address the incidents of kidnappings in the state.

He was speaking at a media briefing at the National Assembly, Abuja.

He said the the issue of insecurity is a big challenge in the south east that requires urgent attention by the the Nigerian Government.

The Lawmaker said that almost everyday, people are being kidnapped for a random of as low as fifty thousand naira.

“Kidnaping has become common to the extent that they are now going to peoples homes inside villages to carry them. On the express those ones will carry you and demand for millions of naira. I think it is now a serious issue for me to move on the floor of the House so that Nigerians will hear that my people are passing through a lot,” Mr. Ogar said.

He also said that the primary essence of governance was to protect the people and property.

“If the people are not protected, what’s the essence of government? I have called upon the president, the Chief of Army Staff, the IG and other relevant security agencies to come to our aid. So that my can live in peace. As I’m talking to you, a lot of villagers have flea their homes. Even our mothers do not go to farms anymore,” he said.

Vigilante Groups

The Lawmaker however said that the Abia state governor was doing a lot and there are plans to form vigilante groups as part of an Ad-hoc solution to the challenge.

Mr. Ogar had earlier moved a motion on “The need To Curb The Incessant Attacks By Kidnappers, Assassins, Bandits And Other Criminal Elements In Isuikwuato And Umunneochi Local Government Areas Of Abia State.”

The motion said ” The House:
Notes that attack by the kidnappers, assassins, bandits and perpetrators of
various heinous crimes in Isuikwuato and Umunneochi Local Government
Areas of Abia State have lingered for more than half decade.

Informed that bandits and criminal elements have forced the Nigerian
Military to close traffic on the Ihube-Isuochi Road at the Lomara Military checkpoint for a long time.

Also informed that the Regional Cattle Market at Lokpanta on the Enugu
Port Harcourt Expressway has persistently been used as human shield by criminal elements even with the presence of military checkpoints dotted significantly along that route.

Aware that the settlers and traders at the Regional Cattle Market at Lokpanta are peaceful and law-abiding citizens going about their routine businesses over a long period of time; Concerned that continued use of the cattle market as human shield could lead to such misinterpretation that could make the market vulnerable to
attacks by criminal elements.

Disturbed that the incessant attacks on the communities within Isuikwuato and Umunneochi Local Government Areas are beginning to force residents to flee their homes and abandon their farmlands and other means of production and livelihood.

Further concerned about the security risks faced and untold hardship suffered by users of Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway through Lokpanta, Ihube-Isuochi road, Uturu-Okigwe Road, ABSU junction- Akara Road, Uturu-Afikpo Road, Umuaku-Umunze Road, Awgu Ishiagu Road and other roads within Isuikwuato and Umunneochi Local Government Areas.

On the need to increase military presence and patrols in the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway through Lokpanta, Ihube-Isuochi Road, Uturu-Okigwe Road, ABSU junction-Akara Road, Uturu-Afikpo Road, Umuaku-Umunze Road, Awgu-Ishiagu Road and other roads within Isuikwuato and Umunneochi Local Government Areas in order to restore  normalcy and earn the confidence of citizens carrying as they carry out their  daily business activities;

The motion Resolved to:

(i) Urge the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to direct the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Air Force, Nigeria Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to intensify checks and other security measure around the Regional Cattle market
in Lokpanta along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, Uturu-Okigwe Road, Ihube-Isuochi Road, ABSU junctionAkara Road; Uturu-Afikpo Road, Umuaku-Umunze Road,
Awgu-Ishiagu Road and environs;

(ii)Urge also the Chief of Army Staff, Inspector General of Police and Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defnce Corps to set up a joint patrol team to comb the farmland
and forests to root out kidnappers, bandits and all criminal elements in all parts of Isuikwuato and Umunneochi Local
Government Areas of Abia State.

(iii) Mandate an Ad-Hoc Committee to interface with the National
Security Adviser, the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, the Inspector-General of Police and the Commandant-General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps to determine measures aimed at reducing the incessant attacks of kidnappers, assassins and bandits and other criminal elements in and around Isuikwuato and Umunneochi Local Government Areas of Abia State and environs and report back to the House within four weeks.

Confidence Okwuchi