*jona:

The closing gate of kidnapping in Abia State
By OBINNA AMANZE
Tuesday, November 17, 2009


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A disastrous end awaits any democratic government without a National Security. In Nigeria today, the embarrassing nature of kidnapping has become most worrisome and everyone’s nightmare. While the g the unbearable rate of unemployment, failure of the power sector, electoral flaws, money laundering and other corrupt practices, child trafficking etc kidnapping in threatening to assume the status of an industry.

[b]Kidnapping, the taking away of a person against his/her will usually for ransom, has become ubiquitous, commercialized and railed from the Niger Delta to most states of the federation, with some states being hotspots. This perpetuated acts of the Niger Delta Militants “Now rehabilitated through Amnesty” turned out to be a crippling virus living in our society.

In Abia State, extortionist kidnapping is the most serious domestic problem facing residents of God’s own state. Other South-East states are also infested with this evil virus but from statistics available, Aba tops other states in the zone. This fact is supported by the police report released in July 2009. Abia State tops all states with a total of 110 kidnap incidents, 353 cases and 3 deaths in 2008. Where Imo recorded 58, 109 arrest 41 prosecutions and I killed, Anambra 40 kidnapping, 40 released, 18 arrest, 11 prosecutions etc.[/b]This unbearable has caused communal crisis in the state. The traditional rulers of Ngwa land and old Bende pointing. The traditional rulers of old Bende accused the Ngwa people of allowing their communities to be used as exit route for kidnappers. I respectfully advice our highnesses to desist from verbal war on this issue because it will make no way in uprooting this troubling tree (Kidnapping) which has become a nightmare to all Abians.

The activities of kidnappers in[b] Abia State, have disrupted the economic activities in the state, paralyzed our industries and economic developments and caused greater unemployment. My brothers (Kidnappers) I am appealing that you have a re-think over your actions and desist from it. I am not apportioning the whole blame on the kidnappers because all of us contributed to this mess especially the doctors, police Hotel owners, traditional rulers etc.

To eradicate kidnapping in Abia State, there should be positive ideas with collective efforts. However most hotel owners in Aba and Umuahia metropolis have joined the Governor of Abia State, the Commissioner of Police and other security agencies in battling this crippling virus in the state. The management of the hotels ensure that their customers make proper identification with proof before lodging and also alert the police whenever there is doubt as to the person’s credibility. This is a welcome development Governor T.A Orji has beefed up his funding on security matters and provided more equipment, more communication gadets, vehicles and other tools to the state police command. With the support of the Commissioner of Police, new vigilante groups were set up while the existing ones were revamped.

Brothers (Kidnappers), if we could remember the fulfilled promises of Ochendu, we need no sooth sayer to tell us that he (Ochendu) is a man destined to change Abians by taking them to the next level. Still on this course, billions of Naira have been spent by the governor in purchasing over 500 Toyota Hilux Jeeps and Ford XLT Jeeps, the fueling, maintenance etc yet kidnappers are bent on mountain special toll on the core psyche of innocent Abians with the humiliation that railed from their actions.

In Abia State today, traders in the market cry bitterly on daily basis for not selling their goods, due to this ugly development and road contractors are scared of completing their paid/funded projects except there is provision of adequate security. This act is preventing the dividends of democracy meant for Abians and the in flow of cash in the state.

It hurts when one realizes that no meaningful investment made so far with the billions of Naira forcefully got by kidnappers other than squandering it on women, cloths, hotels, etc. This entails that hotel owners and kidnapper sponsors are financially growing fat to the detriment of Abia economy. These unscrupulous sponsors jeopardize free movement in the society, force kidnappers to take oath of secrecy before a deity and label them as enemies of the society. Still, these kidnappers found it hard to believe they are conduct pipe that print money for their sponsors.

Consequently, our leaders and other prominent men prefer eating coconut shell to spending a night in Abia State due to the billions of Naira kidnappers extorted from the family members of their counterparts. The list is endless! of Chief J.D Iruke, a former ASUBEB CHAIRMAN, daughter of Navy Captain Obike Ogbonna , Hon. Kelechi Nwankpa, the Chairman of Obingwa Local Government Council, Hon. Monday Ajaegbu, a member of Abia State House of Assembly, Chief Anyansi Agwu, the Chairman of Enyimba Football Club, Prof. Steven Emejuaiwe, Chairman of Abia State Independent Electoral Commission, whose police orderly, a sergeant was killed in the attack that led to his kidnap, Elechi Okoro, Eze Appollos, Eze Ezenwat Mbakwe, Joseph Ogwu, several bankers, lawyers, traditional rulers and scores business men. The assassination of UBA Branch Manager along Factory road Umuahia. The failed attempted kidnap on Senator Enyi Abaribe has also chased him away from Abia State.

These prominent men and women are also the leaders representing Abians, to enable their people have a taste of dividends of democracy.
To make it crystal clear to some of our leaders representing us at the National Assembly, abandoning the problems facing Abians will do us no good other than creating a tumbling economy characterized with insecurity and unemployment

Irrespective of the political families we belong, allowing the Abia State Governor to carry this cross alone, sounds very unsupportive. Why do our leaders allow their conscience and good manners to be imprisoned by the arrogant political malice? They seem to forget that those who control their anger have great understanding but those who exhibit theirs make hasty mistakes.

Abuja (FCT) is not a constituency that Abia leaders are representing rather a mouth piece to channel the predicaments facing their constituency people they are representing. Among all the honourable members representing Abians in Abuja, only few
frequently visit their constituences to have a feel of their problems and assist them to solve it.

Notwithstanding the uncared attitudes of some of our leaders governor did not relent in finding a lasting solution to the menace of this unbearable nightmare. It is a welcome development that the governor has granted amnesty to all kidnappers and other criminals in the state. This will bring peace to the state and I see the governor’s effort as a lasting solution in the tackling this societal virus.

My beloved brothers (kidnappers) I urge you to sincerely accept this amnesty and dislodge any fear of betrayal or unseriousness on the part of state government. In addition, the governor has promised to pardon, rehabilitate and provide good jobs to any kidnapper or criminal who confesses and surrenders his ammunition to the state.
Abia is God’s own State and Abia needs to recapture God’s covenant with humanity. To achieve this, our services to the state should be anchored upon incorruptibility, social conscience, justiceability, mutual respect and harmony. Let’s welcome Amnesty and say farewell to kidnapping.
•Comrade Amanze, a Personal Assistant to theGovernor.[/b]



http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/freekick/2009/nov/17/freekick-17-11-2009-001.htm

redsun:

This crack head don come again,always on igbo issues.In as much they could be factual sometimes,it seems to be her obsession,weirdo.

redsun:

This crack head don come again,always on igbo issues.In as much they could be factual sometimes,it seems to be her obsession,weirdo.

Nchara:

Ngwa people of Abia State are spoiling the broth. Most of the kidnapping in Abia State happen in in the Ngwa areas

Nchara:

Ngwa people of Abia State are spoiling the broth. Most of the kidnapping in Abia State happen in in the Ngwa areas