The communities of Eke, Egede, Affah, Akpakwume, and Nze in Udi North Local Council of Enugu State have raised concerns over heightened insecurity and rampant kidnappings, which they attribute to the deplorable state of their roads.

Chief Emeka Udeh, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke on behalf of the residents in an open letter to Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, made available to The Guardian.

While commending the governor for initiating road construction from Ama-Brewery through Ezeagu (Oghe and Olo) to the exit of Eke town, Udeh urged him to extend this project to other communities facing similar issues.

The letter read, “The major road cutting through Udi North is dire and urgently needs rehabilitation. This regional access route supports the movement of goods and services for commercial purposes from North Central Nigeria to Enugu State and beyond.”

The letter further highlighted that farmers from remote areas in Udi North rely on the road daily to transport their produce to Enugu for sale. “They continue to risk their lives on this dilapidated road, which has become a hotspot for kidnappings,” it added.

Residents pleaded for the governor’s intervention, emphasising that the poor road condition has contributed to the loss of life and property as kidnappings and robbery attacks persist in the area.