
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, yesterday, expressed outrage over the sudden resurgence of kidnapping in Enugu State.
It said that between Thursday and yesterday, scores of travellers were abducted along Enugu-Ugwuogo-Opi Nsukka Road.
A statement by the National President, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, said that the development was unacceptable, adding that during the week, some commuters were abducted despite military and police check points along the road.
A road user confirmed that the hoodlums attacked commuters at three separate intervals on Thursday. He said while the first attack occurred at noon, the second happened around 2.00 p.m. He added that another group of commuters were kidnapped around 5.00 pm.
Nnabuike wondered how criminals could become so daring to the point of abducting travellers in a road where over 10 check points were stationed.
He said: “We have been inundated with reports concerning the daily abduction of commuters along the Ugwuogo-Nsukka Road.
This is the same scenario that played out last year before the immediate past administration, in conjunction with security agencies, deployed both the military and the police.
“It is strange for hoodlums to have the audacity to launch such attacks daily, despite the number of check points on the road. We demand a discreet investigation of all the security personnel manning the check points. They should be totally overhauled.
“We consider this as an attempt by some persons to discredit the new administration of the Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah,. But they have already failed on arrival.”
He called on the security chiefs in the state to protect the lives and property of the citizens, stressing that, “they should not give citizens the feeling that these bandits are now more powerful than state forces.
“The criminality along the Ugwuogo-Nsukka Road, Four Corner-Udi Road, and other parts of the State must end. It is inconceivable that unknown gunmen and hoodlums will enter the city centre and operate unchallenged for over 20 minutes. This is why we are warning that any plan to sabotage the administration of Governor Peter Mbah will be resisted by the Igbo youths.”