Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Two suspected kidnappers have been apprehended along Opi-Ugwuogo road by a team of Enugu State Local Security Operatives led by Nsukka Local Government Area Neighbourhood Watch command.
The arrest followed rising incidence of abduction and robbery along the route in recent times which has caused panic and anxiety among motorists and commuters.
Ikengaonline reports that even the presence of over six police check points on the road has not deterred the hoodlums from carrying out their nefarious activities.
The Police Command in the state had last week paraded before newsmen over 25 suspected criminals across the state including two suspected kidnappers arrested while operating along the Opi-Ugwuogo road.
The situation had also forced some commercial bus drivers along the route to stage a peaceful protest calling on authorities to save their lives.
This is even as an official of the state government had debunked the kidnapping incidents on the road saying all the information emanating from there was fake news.
However, on Sunday, the RRS in collaboration with the State Neighbourhood Watch and State Forest Guard arrested two kidnapping suspects.
The Chief Security Officer to the Nsukka Local Government, Mr Ejike Okpe, who disclosed this to journalists on Monday morning, said the suspects had been handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.
Okpe said that security measures introduced by the chairman of Nsukka LGA to restore security, sanity and tranquility along Opi-Ugwogo Road had started yielding results.
He assured motorists that the local government would sustain the onslaught against the hoodlums until they are completely weeded out.
“The efforts being made by the people’s Mayor, Hon Walter Ozioko, the Executive Chairman of Nsukka LGA, to restore security, sanity and tranquility along Opi-Ugwogo Road have started yielding positive results.
“Just Yesterday, Sunday, the combined forces of Nsukka LGA Neighbourhood Watch, Nsukka LGA Rapid Response Squad and their Forests Guards counterparts arrested two suspected kidnappers.
“The suspects who have been handed over to the police are currently cooperating with the men of law.”
“It is believed that through them, their accomplices, cohorts and gang would be tracked down,” he said.
Okpe said that since the cases of kidnapping increased along Opi-Ugwogo Road, the council chairman had not rested one bit. “And today, the results of his and his team’s hard work have begun to manifest.
“Believing that security of lives and property is about the chief essence of governance, the Mayor has vowed to rid, not just Opi-Ugwogo Road but the entirety of Nsukka LGA of kidnapping and other heinous vices,” he said.
