By NewsBits
Gunmen at about 5:10pm yesterday kidnapped five persons along the ever busy Mile 2 axis of the Ishiagu/Okigwe expressed road, Ebonyi State.
The victims were said to be returning home from Enugu Airport with an airport taxi (Sienna bus) with reg/no. KWL 941 PD before they were kidnapped at Mile 2 area, Ishiagu, and taken into the nearby bush by unknown gunmen.
A Source from the community who spoke on grounds of anonymity gave the names of the Kidnapped victims as one Ajah Chibuzo Aged 41. His wife. his 12years old daughter and the airport driver
of the vehicle.
The Source further revealed that the hoodlums while taking the victims into the bush also met a farmer in his farm and also abducted him. He stated that the vehicle conveying the victims were abandoned at the scene of the incident, but was later recovered to Ishiagu police station.
Not fewer than 20 persons have been Kidnapped along the axis in the last 4 months with about 4 killed by the rampaging kidnappers who are suspected to be herdsmen.
The women of the community had about few months ago staged a protest which later turned violence following the continued abduction of innocent residents of the area by hoodlums.
When contacted, the Special Assistant to the Ebonyi State Governor on Internal Security, Ivo Local Government Area of the State, Hon Ike Cletus who confirmed the abduction expressed
regret that the local government has become a safe heaven for kidnappers and attributed it to the none functionality of the local Vigilante Group in the council.
Hon Cletus expressed the concern that apart from the military personnel at the express road, the vigilante group set up by the council are not functional and call for a total overhaul of the security architecture of the local government.
It is unfortunate that Ivo Local Government has become a safe heaven for kidnappers and other criminal elements. We have a none functional vigilante group in the local government. You hardly see them anywhere in the local government yet money are spent on them monthly without any fruitful result.
The security architecture of the local government especially that of the local Vigilante Group must be overhauled and make it more efficient.
He maintained that the administration of Rt. Hon Francis Nwifuru is determined to ensure the security of lives and properties of its citizens and needs the support of the Council Chairmen in whose domain the kidnappers operate freely.
