ETHIOPE RESIDENTS CALL ON OKOWA TO FLUSH OUT KIDNAPPERS FROM DELTA STATE

 ETHIOPE RESIDENTS CALL ON OKOWA TO FLUSH OUT KIDNAPPERS FROM DELTA STATE 

Irked by the recent death of Mr. Ochuko Adjekpovu, a councilor representing Ward 4 at the Ethiope East Legislative Chamber, some residents living in different parts of Ethiope East Local Government Area have called on the Executive Governor of Delta State, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa to beef up security urgently so as to flush out kidnappers from the state.

One of the constituents (that preferred anonymity for security reasons) who spoke at Eku with much bitterness of heart, said:  “Many of us are distressed by the incessant cases of kidnapping in Ethiope East and other parts of Delta State.  The young man, Hon. Ochuko Adjekpovu was said to be returning home from a function a couple of weeks ago, when kidnappers assailed him at Sanubi.  As he was escaping into the bush, they shot at him severally.  He was later located and taken to hospital, but he died on December 16, 2021, and his family is now thrown into confusion.”

            Continuing, the constituent revealed: “I remember how Madam Margaret, wife of the dealer of NNPC Petrol Station at Eku, was kidnapped along Okurekpo/Warri Road in April, 2015, and she slumped and died pitiably in the hands of the kidnappers in the bush.  Uncle Monday (popularly known as Patmon) and his wife were kidnapped in the evening of Sunday, December 11, 2021 between Okuridjerhe and Samagidi on their way from Ughelli.  They were taken to an undisclosed destination and the kidnappers released them only after collecting much money from their family.   And in March, 2021, a medical practitioner who is also a pastor, was kidnapped right inside his church near the Eku Baptist Government Hospital, Eku and taken away for about a week.  He was released only after the ransom demanded by the kidnappers, was paid.

            “The cases are very many, with some few persons just being fortunate like Gilbert and Eric.  Last week, Gilbert and his wife were returning from Warri and kidnappers attempted abducting them along the Warri/Eku Road; but their driver was very vigilant and was able to zoom off from the kidnappers.   And back in 2015, one of my friends who works in NNPC, was to be kidnapped.  But by God’s intervention, he got wind of the evil plot and so, was able to escape.”

            The constituent concluded by saying:  “I and others of like-minds are crying, we are howling, and we are calling on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to protect our lives by beefing up security in all the hot spots in Ethiope East and other parts of Delta State, so as to stop kidnappers from terrorising our lives.”

            While travelling from Eku to Abraka, Obukohwo, the driver who conveyed the writer of this article, added his voice to the cry over frequent kidnapping, saying:  “We, drivers who ply Warri/Abraka Road and Abraka/Agbor Road, always put our hearts in our mouths when we are working these days.  In the past, we had fear of armed robbers; but these days, it is the fear of kidnappers.  The government should come to our aid by investigating those behind the kidnappings, whether they are Fulanis or local boys, and use more security agents to secure the roads for us”.

            Residents living in Abraka have also joined in the cry for protection against kidnappers.  Among those who have cried out recently, is Mr. Omamuyovwi Irikefe who resides in Abraka P.O., and he said: “Kidnapping has become an everyday event in our area.  More than 20 staff of the Delta State University (DELSU) had been kidnapped in Abraka and the environs.  In this month of December, 4 students of DELSU were kidnapped together with 5 other persons, and the kidnappers demanded N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira) as ransom.  You may recall that in July (2021) one student named Odje Stephen was shot dead at Oria, and 2 others whisked away from the same spot by unknown gunmen (on their way back to resume school).  People’s lives are no longer valued, and our human dignity has been reduced even lower than that of chickens.”

            “Please help us to tell our Delta State Government through your newspaper, to kindly change the security music.  The Police and other security agents that we have in the state are no longer adequate for the security work.  Rather than feeling that the Police is on top of the situation, let Governor Okowa copy the example of the Bayelsa State Governor who recently reformed the vigilante groups of that state and bought 60 new Hilux Pick-ups for them to be doing surveillance in all their motor-able communities.  Let Governor Ifeanyi Okowa collaborate with all the local government chairmen and traditional rulers to establish effective vigilante outfits in each kingdom for effective perambulation and surveillance, so that this everyday kidnapping will be curbed, and the lives of Deltans will be protected.”