Kidnappers in Isuikwuato and Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State are now demanding as little as N30,000 from their victims, according to Uchenna Ogah, a member of the House of Representatives. Ogah expressed his concerns to journalists after presenting a motion on the issue and stated that a large number of his constituents have been forced to flee their homes. The situation is particularly dire along the expressway in the region, where many people have been kidnapped and forced to pay millions of naira in ransom at gunpoint.
Ogah, a member of the Labour Party (LP), called on President Bola Tinubu to take action and deploy security agents to address this alarming development. He likened kidnapping to a thriving business, emphasizing that people are being kidnapped almost daily in his constituency. The kidnappers have even resorted to targeting individuals in their own homes, demanding ransoms ranging from N30,000 to N50,000.
The lawmaker highlighted the plight of villagers who can no longer cultivate their farms or go about their daily lives due to the prevailing insecurity. He stressed that his purpose in the House of Representatives is to represent his constituents, and without adequate security, any development projects he attracts would be futile.
In addition to expressing support for the establishment of state police, Ogah appealed to the Federal Government to intervene in his constituency. The House adopted the motion and called on the President to deploy security agents to key locations such as the Regional Cattle Market in Lokpanta, along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, and various roads including Uturu-Okigwe Road, Ihube-Isuochi Road, Abia State University Uturu (ABSU) Junction, Akara Road, Uturu-Afikpo Road, Umuaku-Umunze Road, Awgu-Ishiagu Road, and surrounding areas.
Furthermore, the House urged the Chief of Army Staff, Inspector General of Police, and Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to establish a joint patrol team to comb farmlands and forests with the goal of eradicating kidnappers, bandits, and all other criminal elements in Isuikwuato and Umunneochi councils.
To address the situation comprehensively, the House mandated an ad hoc committee to engage with the National Security Adviser, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Inspector General of Police, and Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. The committee will assess and propose measures to combat criminal activities in the affected areas, with a deadline to report back to the House within four weeks.
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