Residents, groups, and relevant stakeholders, including retired security officers, have raised alarm over the escalating incidents of kidnapping in Anambra State. They emphasize the urgent need for intervention to tackle this concerning trend.
Investigations from sources at South-East PUNCH reveal a surge in the activities of armed criminals, believed to be involved in kidnapping, across both rural and urban areas of the state.
In separate interviews with South-East PUNCH, residents express their distress, noting the financial incentive driving these criminals coupled with suspicions of collusion with security forces enabling their criminal acts.
Reports indicate a disturbing pattern where approximately 20 individuals were abducted and over N250 million paid in ransom between May and August 2024. Additionally, more than 10 fatalities were recorded during this period, raising further concerns about the heightened frequency of kidnapping incidents.
Recently, three individuals were abducted along the Nkpologwu-Akpo Road in Aguata Local Government Area. Another notable incident involved the kidnapping of a person known as ‘Major’ in Ihiala. Various other cases, including abductions of a professor and a couple in Awka, underscore the severity of the situation.
The continued abduction of individuals, such as the son of a prominent traditional ruler and a National Youth Service Corps Coordinator, reflects the brazenness of the criminals operating in the state.
The kidnappings are often executed by perpetrators using SUV Prado Jeeps with tinted windows, facilitating their activities with minimal interference.
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, Chief Basil Okey from Awka raised concerns over the inadequacies in the current security framework, calling for a comprehensive overhaul to effectively combat the scourge of kidnapping.
Chief JohnBosco Odimegwu, the Coordinator of the South-East Security Forum, highlighted the proliferation of kidnapping camps in Anambra and neighboring states, emphasizing the need for concerted efforts to address the escalating crisis.
Retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Celestine Okoye, also condemned the surge in kidnapping incidents in Awka, echoing the urgent need for robust measures to curb this dangerous trend.
The city of Awka, particularly the Dubai Estate area, has been described as a danger zone.
Okoye, a title holder in Awka, was captured in a video carrying an AK-47 rifle at an event, expressing concern over threats to his life from suspected hoodlums. These individuals sought his help in securing bail for their detained members, to which he refused.
He lamented that influential figures in Awka were allegedly sponsoring cultists and kidnappers, fueling the existing insecurity in the region.
Several recent kidnapping incidents in Awka, such as the abduction of a newly-married couple with a ransom demand of N30 million, were cited by Okoye.
The retired DIG expressed frustration over the worsening security situation in Awka, attributing blame to the government, security agencies, and parents for failing to fulfill their obligations.
Okoye highlighted that security issues in Anambra State were being unnecessarily politicized, recalling a canceled meeting with Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo to discuss security concerns and provide advice.
He also criticized parents for neglecting their duties and obstructing police investigations by hastily burying bodies of cult members without informing the authorities, hindering the probe process.
Emphasizing the need for urgent intervention to address the escalating insecurity in the state, Okoye commended Nnewi for having a well-organized local security system with street cameras that have enhanced security.
In response, Anambra State Commissioner for Homeland Matters, Chief Chikodi Anarah, assured that the state was actively tackling security challenges through round-the-clock operations and arrests.
Anarah stressed the involvement of key individuals in combating insecurity and mentioned the government’s efforts to collaborate with community leaders to combat the menace.
The spokesman for Anambra State Police Command, SP Ikenga, reiterated the collaborative effort between the police and locals in volatile areas to unmask and apprehend criminals, reducing crime occurrences.
Ikenga advised families of kidnap victims to cooperate with the police by providing relevant information to aid investigations and capture the culprits in such incidents.