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Imo: Reeling under kidnappers’ onslaught !


Friday, 31 August 2012 00:00 From Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri News - Metro


IMO State is reeling under a scourge as a result of which many now live in fear.

Kidnapping, which started among militants in the creeks of the Niger Delta has found fertile ground in Imo State and now anxiety and uncertainty are almost palpable across the land.

In ‘the Eastern Heartland’ the fear of kidnappers is the beginning of wisdom as people dread being abducted almost anywhere and their families forced to pay huge ransoms for heir freedom, which ,unfortunately, is not guaranteed.

Almost anyone can be kidnapped : medical doctors,journalists, politicians, top civil servants, traditional rulers and even women have fallen prey.

A number of kidnap victims have been killed, even after their families paid the huge sums of money demanded by their abductors, while some have had the special misfortune of being abducted , not once, but twice.

The litany of victims is long and also representative of all corners of the state. Without necessarily following a chronological order, some of the most notable incidents include last year’s kidnapping of Dr. Uche Anyanwu from Mbano. His abductors demanded N30 million which his family struggled to raise. After several weeks, they paid the ransom only for Anyanwu’s lifeless body to be found shortly after.

The same fate befell Dr. Amako, from Ohii, Owerri West who was kidnapped and shot on the leg. The gunmen who demanded several millions as ransom held him for days , until one day they dumped him by a roadside . The wound on his leg had become dangerously infected. From where he was dumped, Dr. Amako was taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri and a few hours later, he died.

A former Chief of Staff and later Commissioner for Health, Dr. Vin Udokwu was kidnapped and held for several months, even after paying the ransom. He refuses to disclose what he paid.

About the same period, a former Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Chief Godfrey Dikeocha, was also abducted and held for months, most of which he spent blindfolded. An undisclosed ransom was paid and he was freed. Sources said he went blind temporarily until quick medical attention restored his sight.

Traditional rulers have not been spared as Eze Samuel Agunwa Ohiri of Obi Orodo, Mbaitoli was kidnapped, but not before his abductors shot dead his father and brother.

Another ruler, Eze Chijioke Okwara in Orlu spent several weeks in captivity and refuses to disclose what he paid as ransom.

The kidnappers have scant regard for places of worship.

The newly recognized Eze Oliver Nwaozuzu of Awo Mbieri and his wife were attending Mass on a Sunday when armed men stormed the church and whisked the couple away. Eze Nwozuzu was held for days until an undisclosed ransom was paid.

Mrs. Stella Odimegwu, wife of the former Managing Director of Nigeria Breweries Limited and at present, Chairman National Population Commission (NPC), Chief Festus Odumegwu, was kidnapped while she was worshipping in their village church in Orsu, about two years ago. Reports said a fat ransom was paid for her freedom.

In Aboh Mbaise, the wife of a former Local Council Chairman, Richmond Osuji’s was also kidnapped last year and an undisclosed ransom paid before her release.

Also, a journalist, Chief Ndubuizu Ugorji of Imo Broadcasting Corporation Television was in June this year kidnapped just in front of his abode at Orji, Owerri North Local Council of the state.

Sources told The Guardian that friends, fellow workers and relatives raised about N2 million to secure his release.

Pastor Anselem Iwuala, was last year abducted as he was travelling along Okpala-Mbaise Road to his home, Egberede Nguru, Aboh Mbaise. He spent about seven days with his abductors as negotiation for payment of N100 million was going on. When his family could only pay N500,000 of the amount demanded by his abductors, he was killed.

Another ruler in the state, Eze Stanley Akunatoof Umueze Abazu, Ogwa Mbaitoli Local Council was killed after an attempt to abduct him failed..

A retired Superintendent of Police Moses Ejeka, was kidnapped more than a year ago and he spent almost three months in captivity.

A lady, Ugo Mma, was kidnapped along MCC Road, Owerri until a ransom was paid.

A two-time member of the Imo State House of Assembly, Celestine Ngobiwu was kidnapped twice.

In one of the incidents, his orderly was said to have been killed.

Two other personalities in the state, a Permanent Secretary, Iyke Amafili and a former Imo State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress Steve Ibe, had also been kidnapped.

They were held for days until undisclosed ransoms were paid.

A High Court Judge was kidnapped in Owerri more than a year ago and another, Justice Ngozi Okpara, shot along the popular Tetlow Road, Owerri by suspected kidnappers.He survived after treatment.

A Community leader in Awo Omama, Chidiebere Nwanyanwu, was kidnapped and an undisclosed ransom paid before his release.

Just last Sunday August 26, 2012, the Principal Secretary in the office of the Imo State Deputy Governor, E menike Ihekwoaba, was kidnapped at Amaraku, Isiala Mbano .

He was on his way to his village in Nkwerre and had alighted to buy something when the kidnappers surrounded him and bundled the massively-built man into the boot of their car and sped off. His wife and driver escaped. But the government seems , at last , to have picked-up the gauntlet.

The Commissioner of Police, Christopher Dega now an Assistant Inspector General (AIG), told The Guardian that the Command has devised a technology to track down the kidnappers. He refused to disclose it.

“We have a technology to trap them. We can not disclose that. They are in for a hard time”, he said.

Also, the state governor , Rochas Okorocha says any traditional ruler in whose domain there is an incident of kidnapping risks losing his salary and would be suspended. Any building used for such purpose would be confiscated by the state government, while any kidnapper caught would face capital punishment based on the law passed by the state Assembly.

Meanwhile, soldiers of 34 Field Artillery Brigade, Obinze, have begun a massive man hunt of kidnappers in forests in all the 27 councils of the state.

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=97270:imo-reeling-under-kidnappers-onslaught-&catid=3:metro&Itemid=558[/b]

We have a technology to trap them. We can not disclose that. They are in for a hard time”, he said.

word is cheap.

You mean Imo is not safe






#freeteamgarri

You know a country is bleeped up, when you see soldiers doing the work of the police. Why can't the police do their jobs for once in their miserable lifes. Upgrade security gadgets, be innovative.

If you allow Oyibo back. We will put CCTV and microphone everywhere (even in Mosque and Mama Put)...put police on every junction with heavy calibre G3 weapon. Build Great China Wall btw every state with army checkpoint in between.

All we expect in return - 20% of oil revenue.

buha. and this is just one state in ala igbo. u can imagine these jokers claiming that they are peaceful people.

when ala igbo is the kidnapping capital of the world.

[size=14pt]938 persons kidnapped, N1.2 billion ransom paid in 8 months in South East[/size]

Kidnapping has become the fastest growing business in Nigeria’s south-east with no fewer than 938 prominent sons and daughters of the South East zone are alleged to have been kidnapped between January 2008 and August 2012, a civil society group, Campaign for Democracy (CD), has said.

Police authorities, however, disagreed with the figures, saying it was the figment of the imagination of the group that released the figures.

In a statement signed by Mr Uzor Uzor and Dr Jerry Chukwuokolo, the CD chairman and secretary respectively in the South East, said the kidnapped persons paid ransoms said to be valued at about N1.2 billion during the period.

The statement also said that kidnappers collected substantial amounts from their victims ranging from N5 million to N30 million per individual.

“Anambra State has the highest incidence of kidnapping of 273 persons, especially within the commercial axis of Onitsha and Nnewi. And it is happening at a constant rate for over five years now.

“Imo State with the current up-surge in kidnapping incidence has recorded 265 cases, while its residence is living in heightened fear.

“Abia follows behind with 215 persons so far; although the incidences of kidnapping had continued to reduce for some months now after the death of a notorious kidnapper called Osisikankwu.

“Enugu has recorded 95 cases in the past five years. However, the state has recorded the highest in abduction of government officials.

“Ebonyi is the least of all the five states in the South-east. It has recorded 90 cases so far officially. However, apart from kidnapping the state is laden with communal crisis,’’ it said.

The statement maintained that there was a need to take decisive actions to checkmate the spate of kidnapping in the zone.

“One practical way of doing it is the demolition of established structures or buildings used by kidnappers to advance their operations.

“The governors in the zone must work in synergy to address the issue of security and draft laws that would stiffen the penalties for kidnapping and other related offences,’’ the CD said.

The group gave the South-east governors’ forum till the end of October 2012 to address the up-surge in kidnapping and restore the confidence of foreign investors to the zone.

Contacted, the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba, described CD’s figures as a figment of their imagination.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the police was the statutory authority to issue the number of persons kidnapped in an area.

He, however, raised some questions over the CD’s statement: “What is the source of their information? What is the methodology of obtaining the figures? Do the CD work with the kidnappers or did the kidnappers render account to them?’’

http://reporters365.com/more-news/938-persons-kidnapped-n1-2-billion-ransom-paid-in-8-months-in-south-east/

oduasolja: buha. and this is just one state in ala igbo. u can imagine these jokers claiming that they are peaceful people.

when ala igbo is the kidnapping capital of the world.

You are a mo.ron. kill yourselve, because you are a bloo.dy waste of space.

At an average of N1.2m per victim, it means kidnapping has become retail business although you can be too sure people will inflate the amount paid as ransom. Too bad the kidnappers won't turn up to refute the claims but really shows the depth of greed and criminal tendencies in our society

Igbos are naturally criminals. Check the worst criminals in this countrys history

Derico, Osisikankwu, Clifford Orji, Otokoto, Okija Shrine, Anajemba, Nwude, Tobechukwu Onwuhara, drug mules to Malaysia

all are from alayibo

@@@@

this is serious

urgent action needed for good!

We all know this is the world famous ibo business acumen. Kill and kidnap their own school kids for money.


And the same useless people go start topic everyday to say this weak and incompetent okorosha is the best governor in Nigeria.


Suxs to be AGIPA PEOPLE...

@amor4ce, That post of yours (938 persons kidnapped, N1.2 billion ransom paid in 8 months in South East) is simply crazy,
N1.2B?? men that one na industry na . . . bigger than Nollywood, bigger than Big self . . . Haba! . . . Buncha Commercial mistakes