It is with great sadness I write to you about the frequent robbery/kidnap along Ahoada/Elele/Emouha axis of East-West road. It has almost become a norm and security operatives have turned a blind eye to these occurrences.

There are over 10 check points beginning from Ahoada to Emouha it is actually a shame and failure on the path of our security to have all these check pionts and yet these criminals operate successfully. We have the SARs and other police squads on those check points. The SARs men are known to intimadate drivers and harrass passengers with expensive phones and laptops. The police men in other checking points are known to collect 100 from drivers and any drivers who refuses to pay that is when they remember to check for car particulars and search the vehicle all in the bid to delay the driver. Their presence have no effect security wise at all. There have been numerous cases of robbery and kidnaping on that road. There have been whipers that they even work hand in hand with these criminals by leaving their duty post thereby allowing the criminals to operate or not trying to come to the rescues even when they can hear the sound of gun shots which is usually few meters away from their checking points.

Numerous drivers have lost their lives on that road likewise passengers who either end up being killed, raped or dragged (Kidnap) into the bush from which they are taken to their den where ransom are demanded. The case of the Agofure Motors driver who was killed and his passengers kidnapped leaving the lady who was cripple behind knowing fully well that she cant join the marathon to their den. I once heard one the drivers of Agofure Motors saying that they have lost up 15 drivers on that road likewise drivers of other transport companies, private car owners.

I had an encouter with these hardened criminals on the 1st of April 2019, on a monday morning at about 7:30 am, at first it seems like April fool but I was in the middle of a cross fire, gun shots of different sounds, guys who ought to be doing legitimate jobs holding and shooting guns of different caliber. From my Vehicle we could see a helpless driver who was shot right in our very own eyes strongling to survive on the ground. Our driver who was once a victim  sometime ago (on his face he has scares, one side of nose blown off, he said eleven bullets were removed from his face and his passengers were taken away that night) miraclouly maneuvered the vehicle out of the horrific scene, even when two of the hoodlums continuously aimed at our Vehicle. The driver was able to drive to nearest checking point signaling all on coming vehicle of the dangers ahead. There were about 6 police men on duty and we told them about the ongoing robbery of which they could hear loudly sounds of gunshots but they didn't move an inch, they waited till we stopped hearing gunshots before they sluggishly drove towards the scene but by that time they were already gone into the bush, I heard there is a river deep inside the bush and they come with boats.

From all observations I think it is the Army that can fully engage these guys in combat. They are not faceless, they are from those communities within, a proper combing of these communities to fish out these criminals need to be done. The elders from these communities have failed to caution their sons. Those checking points should be occupied by the army and new checking should be set up at intervals where these guys still operate. The SARs and Police on that road should be removed from those checking points, they are of no use security wise, they are only there to extort money from drivers and Passengers.

This is a humble plea to the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike to take the necessary actions to eradicate these criminal, we know you are busy with the election but our lives matters too. I am calling on the Nigerian Army, we dont care how this operation is going to be called wether python, cobra, Viper dance all we want is safe travels along that road. And not leaving out the federal Government we need urgent intervention.