The people of Isuikwuato community in Abia State, South East, Nigeria, are bemoaning their fate, following alleged incessant cases of kidnap and abduction of their sons and daughters by unknown gunmen suspected to be armed herdsmen.
The people claim that over 30 people both from the community and outside, have been kidnapped by heavily armed mercenaries terrorising the areas.
Isuikwato is an agrarian community on the highway to the Northern zone of Abia state and is one of the most hard-hit by the escalating level of insecurity in the area.
When ait.live visited the community, the traditional rulers’ council together with community leaders, were busy holding series of security meetings with hunters and other local vigilante groups, all aimed at finding a lasting solution to the ugly trend.
Indigenes of the community say suspected kidnappers have made it impossible for them to go to bed with both eyes closed as many indigenes and visitors have either being kidnapped or killed by the criminals.
Some blamed the smooth operations of the kidnappers on the bad road network in the area others are however worried that the high-level presence of security operatives in the area has not in any way hampered the activities of kidnappers.
Abia State Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi Kalu, and the Chairman, Isuikwuato Local Government Area, Chima Agbeze assured that the state government is doing something about the security challenge in the LGA.
Though there were no heavy presence of security men along the Umuahia – Isuikwato road and other link roads to the community as at the time ait.live visited, the Abia State Police command however insisted that they are on top of the situation.
In the past, kidnap incidences swept across Aba, the commercial nerve center of Abia state and its environs, forcing residents to flee the city, until soldiers were deployed in 2010.
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It is expected that both federal and state governments will promptly respond to the security challenges in Isuikwato and parts of the state and restore order, security and rebuild the people’s confidence in government.
(Editor: Abaje Usekwe)
